Zinnia employee, Andy’s Pizza among RAMMY winners

44th annual event honors the best of local food scene

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June 30, 2026 12:15 p.m. | Updated: June 30, 2026 12:28 p.m.

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When Jose Luis Salgado, who works at Zinnia in Silver Spring, was announced as the winner of the Employee of the Year award at the 44th Annual RAMMY Awards on Monday night, a cheer erupted at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

“I do everything … to make the guests feel like Zinnia is home for them,” Salgado during his acceptance speech during the awards ceremony at the theater.

Hosted by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington’s (RAMW), the RAMMY Awards aim to honor the Washington metropolitan area’s restaurant and food service scene and community. Salgado and Andy’s Pizza, which was named Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year, were among five finalists from Montgomery County this year.

Salgado has been working at Zinnia at 9201 Colesville Road since 2005, back when the building was home to Mrs. K’s Toll House. According to the Zinnia website, he is one of the longest tenured employees.

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Mike Rothman, director of hospitality at Zinnia, told Bethesda Today in March when the RAMMY semifinalist were announced that Salgado is the “heartbeat” of the restaurant. “Without his smile and his hard work, Zinnia just would not be the same,” Rothman said.

Andy’s Pizza, which has three of its 14 locations in the county, beat out four competitors to win the award for Fast Casual Restaurant of the Year including San Pancho, a Mission -style burrito shop in Takoma Park, and the Call Your Mother bagel chain.

During his acceptance speech, owner Andy Brown shared the highs and lows of interacting with D.C.-area customers, particularly in the early hours of the morning.

“I have worked every piece of D.C.,” Brown told the crowd during his acceptance speech. “I have seen you all after 9:30 Club at 3 in the morning while you yell at me. I’ve seen you at your angriest when you’re hungover screaming at us, but we are so happy to be here.”

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Brown, a Montgomery County native, shared with Bethesda Today why it’s important to him to stay rooted in the community where he grew up.

“I think that in today’s world, people lose a connection with home,” he told Bethesda Today after receiving his award. “I love it here. I’m going to stay here because this is where I belong.”

Other finalists with Montgomery County ties included Matt Adler, the chef behind Caruso’s Grocery, which has a location at 11820 Trade St. at North Bethesda’s Pike & Rose.

Soko Butcher, another Takoma Park eatery, was a finalist for the hottest sandwich spot, which was part of the publicly voted categories.

But perhaps Salgado’s story shows what the night was really meant to celebrate.

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“It’s never about awards,” RAMW President and CEO Shawn Townsend said during his opening remarks. “It’s always been about the people, the people who show up early, the people who stay late, the people who take care of complete strangers as if they were family. And that’s why you all are winners tonight.”

Bethesda Today reporters Elia Griffin and Jacqueline Kalil contributed to this story.

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine