RAM Annual Awards Gala 2025

Join the party as we celebrate the restaurant and foodservice industry like never before! More than 600 restaurant employees, chefs, owners, and industry supporters will enjoy numerous food stations, an open bar, live music, industry awards, and more.
Suggested Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

Sponsor tables set up at the RAM Awards Gala

A group of people posing with Bartender of the Year, Mya Gour

Chef of the Year, Tobias Dorzon, accepts his award on stage

A photo recap of Gala 2024 has been uploaded via photographer Maximilian Franz's SmugMug. Use password 'CoriG' to access the photos.

Purchase Tickets and Sponsorship Opportunities

While Gala is RAM's largest and most exciting annual event, space is limited! This year, we are partnering with the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Assocation (OCHMRA) to bring Gala 2025 to the beach! Sponsors now have the unique opportunity to participate in our Awards Gala and the Spring Trade Expo (March 2 & 3, daytime hours) as a two-for-one deal! Annually, the Spring Trade Expo draws thousands of attendees, making these combination sponsorship packages your ultimate chance for brand exposure. Solidify your company's status in the Mid-Atlantic region while reaching thousands of potential new clients. 

**Update: Tables and tickets for the 2025 Awards Gala are completely sold out! Thanks to all of our sponsors below.

VIEW SPONSORSHIP PDF

PLEASE NOTE: Our system will ask you for all names associated with your table. Please enter TBD for any guests whom are not confirmed yet.  Guest list must be finalized by Friday, February 21st. Please e-mail Cori: cgrafer@marylandrestaurants.com with questions and final attendee lists. 

Hotel Room Block

RAM has partnered with the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association to open room blocks at several nearby locations. Click here to see the options. Please consider nearby hotels due to potential parking difficulties at the convention center.

2025 Award Nominations

Each year, the Restaurant Association of Maryland presents annual awards for the following FOH and BOH positions: Chef of the Year, Restaurant Manager of the Year, Server of the Year, and Bartender of the Year. These awards are for those who relentlessly prove their skills and dedication to the industry while demonstrating top-notch leadership qualities. After public nominations, RAM selects five (5) finalists from each category for a public vote. You select the winners. PUBLIC VOTING IS NOW CLOSED. Thank you to the 10K+ people who voted.

2025 Chef of the Year Finalists

Sponsored by DBS

 

Chef Bianka Mbeng

Bianka Mbeng
Pleroma Cuisine
Laurel

Chef Zack Mills

Zack Mills
True Chesapeake
​Baltimore City

Chef Jonathan Hicks

Jonathan Hicks
Black Flag Social House
Marriottsville

Chef Chris Amendola

Chris Amendola
foraged. a hyper-seasonal eatery
Baltimore City

Chef Gregory Webb

Gregory Webb
Laperaux Bistro
Germantown


2025 Manager of the Year Finalists

Sponsored by the Harrison Group

 

Andrew Ricagno

Andrew Ricagno
Salt & Vine
Olney

Pam Haner
W.C. Harlan
Baltimore City

Kendall Yingling

Kendall Yingling
Brian Boru
Severna Park

Jayleen Fonseco

Jayleen Fonseco
JesseJays
Churchton

Jess Steirer

Jess Steirer
Walker's Tap & Table
Glenwood


2025 Server of the Year Finalists

 

Frank Cascio

Frank Cascio
Fager's Island
Ocean City

Marco Samayoa

Marco Samayoa
Lewnes' Steakhouse
Annapolis

Loren Manzione

Loren Manzione
Sunset Grille
Ocean City

John Posner

John Posner
Sterling Tavern
Ocean City

Antonio Forrester

Antonio Forrester
Azumi
Baltimore City


2025 Bartender of the Year Finalists

Presented by Evolution Craft Brewing Company

Holly Strawley

Hollie Strawley
Fishtales
Ocean City

Caileen Ryan Goodman

Caileen Ryan-Goodman
The Shark
Ocean City

Michael Gray

Michael Gray
Seacrets
Ocean City

Nick Gibson

Nick Gibson
Marlin Moon
Ocean City

Sam Elam

Sam Elam
Pit & Pub
Ocean City


2025 RAM Restaurateur of the Year

Sponsored by the Maryland Restaurant & Hospitality Self Insurance Fund

Angela Melton-Fray - Dat Jerk, Multiple Locations

 


2025 Phillips Lifetime Achievement Award

Sponsored by Phillips Foods & Phillips Seafood Restaurants

John Fager - Fager's Island, Ocean City

 


2025 Heart of the Industry Award

Gina Day - Seacrets - Ocean City 

 


2025 ProStart Teacher of the Year

Phillip Cropper - Worcester Technical High School 

 


2025 ProStart Student of the Year

Nicholas Zlotorzynski  Worcester Technical High School 

 


2025 Hall of Honor Inductees

  1. Fish Tales
  2. Buxy’s Salty Dog
  3. Sunset Grille
  4. Harborside
  5. Castle in the Sand / Coconuts
  6. Brew River - Salisbury

 


2025 Food Stations Provided By:

 

Phillips logo
Ace's Run logo
Mother's Cantina logo
Spain Wine Bar logo

 

Brenda's Pizza logo
Macky's logo
Firewater logo
Vaccaro's logo

 

Crossroads Bistro logo
Hook & Vine logo
Sobar logo
Trader's Coffe House logo

 

Les Cookies Delight logo
Black Diamond Catering logo
Salerno's logo
EVO logo

 

Platinum Sponsors:

Fager's Island logo
Fish Tales logo
Salerno's logo

 



DBS logo

 

Gold Sponsors:

MRHSIF logo

MD Tourism logo

Evo Brewing logo

McCormick logo

MDP logo

Sysco logo

SECU logo

Sprague logo

EMR logo

Phillips Seafood logo

R&R Coatings logo

Ecolab logo

Stateside logo

Doordash logo

San Pellegrino logo

Acqua Panna logo

Sunset Grille logo
Heartland logo
Buxy's logo
OCHMRA logo

 

Table Sponsors:

 

Saval logo
MD Dept of Agriculture logo
MTC logo
Kelly Benefits logo

 

KB Payroll logo
Wagner logo
ZM logo
PFG logo

 

Brew River logo
Green Ridge logo
Dat Jerk logo
True Chesapeake logo

 

JJ McDonnell logo
Walker's logo
Acme Paper logo
Laperaux logo

 

WCPS logo
BB logo
Harborside logo
Pit n Pub logo
 

Seacrets logo
Sunset Grille logo
Castle logo




 

Industry Supporters:

 

Fisher Architecture logo
MOPAC logo
Franklin & Prokopik logo
Genera logo

 

Entertainment Provided By:

 

Go Go Gadjet

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