Scot Harlan, owner and chef of Green Pig Bistro in Clarendon, has been honored with an award from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.
At a swanky ceremony in a D.C. hotel last night, Harlan was announced as the winner of the RAMMY award for “Rising Culinary Star of the Year.”
In his acceptance speech, a visibly emotional Harlan thanked his staff, “who make me look good every day;” his family, who “believed in me to do my best;” and “every chef and cook I’ve ever worked with.”
An Arlington native, Harlan worked at notable restaurants and with famous chefs like Gordon Ramsay before opening Green Pig Bistro, in the former American Flatbread space at 1025 N. Fillmore Street, to generally favorable reviews last year.
The other four nominees in the Rising Culinary Star category were Tim Ma (Maple Avenue Restaurant and the future Water and Wall in Virginia Square), Marjorie Meek-Bradley (Ripple), John Melfi (Blue Duck Tavern) and Nathan Shapiro (Ashby Inn and Restaurant).
Other Arlington restaurants nominated for RAMMY awards — including Bayou Bakery (1515 N. Courthouse Road) and Cocina y Tequileria (2800 Clarendon Blvd) — went home empty-handed, aside from the honor of the nomination and the copious amount of food and drink at the reception after the ceremony.