Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse of Washington, D.C., a fixture of the gay community in the District, has been honored with an “America’s Classics” award by the James Beard Foundation.
Located at 1609 17th St NW and owned by Paul Katinas, the eatery is one of five restaurants to win the prize, which is given to regional restaurants with “timeless appeal” and “quality food that reflects the character of their communities.”
Ben’s Chili Bowl and CF Folks lunch counter are the only two other D.C. restaurants that have previously won this award considered to be the Oscars of food.
According to The Beard Foundation, Annie’s “endures as a nexus for Washington, D.C.’s LGBTQ community.”
We're honored and excited to announce today's America's Classics winner with Danny Kim. Congrats, Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse in Washington, D.C.! Early on, this eatery earned a reputation as a welcoming space for the LGBTQ community. Learn more at https://t.co/5TiN65b8W1 #jbfa pic.twitter.com/gbaICSwN57
— James Beard Foundation (@beardfoundation) January 31, 2019
“George Katinas, a first-generation Greek-American and U.S. Army veteran, opened the restaurant in 1948, and by the early sixties it had earned a reputation as a welcoming space for gay people. It moved to its current location in 1985, and George’s son, Paul Katinas, eventually took over,” the Beard Foundation noted.
“Through the years, Annie’s has remained a stalwart supporter of LGBTQ causes, among them the Gay Men’s Chorus, Whitman Walker Clinic, Food and Friends and the Pride parade. At Annie’s, the steaks are hefty, the burgers juicy and the cocktails strong, but what really keeps people coming back is the restaurant’s legacy of inclusiveness and respect.”
The annual James Beard Awards Gala, which will be held on May 6 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, will celebrate this year’s award winners.
“In an industry where longevity is quite an achievement, it is important to honor and celebrate the establishments that have stood the test of time, like the restaurants being recognized as America’s Classics this year,” Clare Reichenbach, James Beard Foundation CEO, said in a news release on Friday.
“These restaurants provide not only wonderful culinary experiences, but are important and enduring pillars in their communities,” added Reichenbach.