Twelve nominees will represent Maryland at this year’s RAMMYS Awards, which honors the best restaurants, chefs and restaurateurs in the Metropolitan Washington area.

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington on Monday announced the finalists for its 2026 awards ceremony, which will be held June 29.

“This is like the first day of school for us,” Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, said of Monday’s kickoff of RAMMYS season. “It’s important that we keep up with this tradition of honoring and highlighting all that our restaurant community has grown to be.”

Maryland nominees are represented in eight categories, including Rising Culinary Star of the Year, Chef of the Year and Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year.

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Three of the five Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year nominees have locations in Montgomery and/or Prince George’s County.

New this year: a Content Creator of the Year award, an announcement that elicited more than a few choice “ooohs” from the crowd of hundreds of restaurant industry members at Monday’s announcement ceremony. There are no set finalists — the public can nominate and vote for any local food content creators on NBC4 Washington’s website from April 20 to May 17. Other categories up for public votes include Best Bar, Best Brunch, Hottest Sandwich Spot and Favorite Gathering Place.

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The RAMMYS last month announced 10 semifinalists in each category, a first for the 43-year-old awards gala. Five finalists will move forward in each category.

“Ten is good because we were able to give some more people some shine, but now it’s like playoffs,“ Townsend said. “I’m excited about the list of finalists that we have.”

The Maryland-native or -based chefs and restaurants l competing this summer for RAMMYS awards include:

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Rising Culinary Star of the Year

  • Anthony Jones of Marcus DC (Jones is from Sunderland)

Manager of the Year

  • Lauren Montana — Pizzeria Paradiso (which has a location in Hyattsville)
  • Debby Portillo — 2fifty Texas BBQ (location in Riverdale)

Employee of the Year

  • Jose Luis Salgado — Zinnia (Silver Spring)

Beer Program of the Year

  • Pizzeria Paradiso

Chef of the Year

  • Matt Adler — Cucina MORINI and Caruso’s Grocery (Caruso’s has a location in North Bethesda)

Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year

  • Andy’s Pizza (locations in Bethesda, Montgomery Mall and the Kentlands)
  • Call Your Mother (locations in North Bethesda and Riverdale)
  • San Pancho (Takoma Park)

Restaurateur of the Year

  • Fernando González — 2fifty Texas BBQ

Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year

  • 2fifty Texas BBQ
  • Soko Butcher (Takoma Park)