The Stars Are Shining Along The Potomac

CHEFS OF THE YEAR: 2008 honoree Eric Ziebold (l.) and 2007 winner Cathal Armstrong.

No one makes toiling in the restaurant industry seem more glamorous than the folks at the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington. The DC-based group throws a black-tie gala each year to honor the city's best restaurants and most talented individuals. This year's edition of the RAMMY Restaurants Awards Gala drew a crowd of 1,600 to the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

Here's who took home a 2008 RAMMY:

Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Equinox.

Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year: Poste Moderne Brasserie.

New Restaurant of the Year: The Source by Wolfgang Puck.

Chef of the Year: Eric Ziebold, CityZen.

Pastry Chef of the Year: Heather Chitttum, Hook.

Rising Culinary Star of the Year: Barton Seaver, Hook.

Restaurant Employee of the Year: Joel Guagliano, Zaytinya.

Restaurant Manager of the Year: Molly McWhorter, Chef Geoff's Downtown.

Wine and Beverage Program of the Year: Passion Food Hospitality.

The dining public picks the winners in four additional RAMMY categories. This year they chose Hank's Oyster Bar, DC, as Neighborhood Gathering Place of the Year; Central Michel Richard as Hottest Bar Scene of the Year; the Oceanaire Seafood Room as Power Spot of the Year; and the Monocle on Capitol Hill as Voters' Choice Restaurant of the Year.

Also honored was longtime Washington Post food critic Phyllis Richman, chosen as the recipient of the Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement award.