The 2017 Stars of the Industry Award winners were unveiled to a crowd of over 600 restaurant and hospitality leaders at the Restaurant Association of Maryland’s 63rd Annual Stars of the Industry Awards Gala - Cirque on April 30th at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel.

Congratulations to all of the award winners and honorees!

Public Awards

Favorite Restaurant: Mission BBQ – Statewide
Favorite New Restaurant: Slice New York Pizza – Baltimore
Chef of the Year, presented by Oracle Hospitality: Brigitte Bledsoe, Miss Shirley's Cafe - Baltimore
Craft Brew Program of the Year, presented by Evolution Craft Brewing Company: The White Oak Tavern – Ellicott City
Favorite Bar or Tavern: Harborside Bar & Grill – Ocean City
Wine & Beverage Program of the Year: DRY 85 – Annapolis
Heart of the Industry: Garret Hadel, Jimmy's Famous Seafood - Baltimore

Members-Only Awards

Restaurateur of the Year, presented by the Maryland Restaurant & Hospitality Self Insurance Fund: John Liberatore - LIBERATORE'S Ristorante & Catering
Allied Member of the Year: Business & Commercial Ventures – represented by Jerry Blumenthal

Honorary Awards

Brice & Shirley Phillips Lifetime Achievement Award: Peter Plamondon Sr. – Roy Rogers Restaurants

Maryland Hospitality Hall of Honor:

• The Bowman Restaurant - Parkville
• The Brewer's Art - Baltimore
• Chat-N-Chew Restaurant - McCoole
• Ellicott Mills Brewing Company - Ellicott City
• Minato Sushi Bar - Baltimore

The Otto Schellhase Award, Recognizing Service & Dedication to RAM: Maria Vaccaro – Vaccaro's Italian Pastry Shop
​
McCormick Cornerstone of the Industry Award:     

• AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar - Columbia
• Blackwall Hitch - Annapolis
• Glory Days Grill - Statewide

​Eddie Dopkin First Course Award Honoring Entrepreneurship in Hospitality: Elisheva Goldenberg – Stratford University

ProStart Awards

ProStart Teacher of the Year:  Jeffrey Smith – Sollers Point Technical High School
ProStart Student of the Year: Kyle Schwartz - Northeast High School