Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced that The 35th Annual RAMMY Awards will return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on July 30. Award nominations are now open through February 3, kicking off a full season that celebrates the region’s outstanding restaurants.

Key changes were made this year to the eligibility requirements in several categories to better represent the Washington, DC regional dining scene. First, the New Restaurant of the Year category extends its time frame to include restaurants that opened between December 1, 2015 and December 31, 2016. Similarly, all the categories that previously had a December 1 cutoff are now extended to December 31, 2016. For the Neighborhood Gathering Place category, the previous requirement that the restaurant must have been in operation for five years, changes to two years in operation to be eligible. And finally, in appreciation for the people that work so hard to provide for your industry, the Regional Food and Beverage Producer category will now be voted on by the RAMW restaurant membership rather than the judges panel.

To nominate an outstanding operator or professional in the area’s exceptional restaurant industry, visit the RAMMYS nominations portal at www.therammys.org through midnight, the evening of February 3. Only RAMW members are eligible to become finalists. Finalists in 20 categories will be announced at a special event in April.

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