In a year marked by ICE raids and anti-immigrant rhetoric at the highest levels of government, last night’s RAMMY Awards highlighted just how much DC’s dining scene is powered the talent of immigrants. Some of the biggest winners of the night were immigrants.

Chef Seng Luangrath, the Laotian refugee turned chef behind Thip Khao, Baan Mae, and Paedek, won Restaurateur of the Year. Carlos Delgado, who represents his Peruvian roots at Causa and Amazonia in Shaw, was named Chef of the Year. Daru and Tapori chef Suresh Sundas, who grew up in Nepal, was named Rising Culinary Star of the Year. The teams behind 2Fifty BBQ (Casual Restaurant of the Year) and Latin American destination Mita (Formal Fine Dining of the Year) also took pride in their immigrant roots on stage.

“This is unbelievable as

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