Amy Brandwein
Chef/Owner of Centrolina and Piccolina da Centrolina
At Centrolina, her celebrated restaurant and market in CityCenterDC, Chef and Owner Amy Brandwein brings a refined, modern perspective to Italian cuisine. An eight-time James Beard Award nominee (2026 Semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurant, 2025 Semifinalist for Outstanding Chef, and 6x nominee for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic), Brandwein believes Italian food should taste as authentic as it does in Italy, seasonal, elegant, and rooted in simplicity, while embracing the freshness and bounty of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Her culinary philosophy is brought to life not only at Centrolina but also at Piccolina, her fast-casual osteria located just across the alley. Since opening in July 2019, Piccolina has exemplified her approach: taking rustic Italian flavors and elevating them through artful presentation without compromising their essence. “I keep Italian food in its raw state but elevate it visually—never overcomplicating, never losing the soul of the dish,” she says.
Chef Brandwein’s talent and vision have earned her widespread recognition. In 2025, she was named a James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Chef, following a 2024 Semifinalist nod for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic and five prior finalist nominations in the same category (2017–2022). She was also named Chef of the Year at the 2018 RAMMY Awards and received numerous other honors from the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, including nominations for Upscale Casual Restaurant of the Year, New Restaurant of the Year, and Rising Culinary Star. Piccolina was named one of Esquire's Best New Restaurants in 2019.
With each dish, Brandwein continues to redefine Italian cuisine in Washington, DC—seasonal, soulful, and always evolving.
In spring 2015, Brandwein opened Centrolina to fanfare not just for her appealing approach to Italian cuisine, but also because of her business savvy and the then-distinctive position of being a sole female chef and owner. Brandwein soon realized her accomplishments meant she needed to play a larger role for the culinary industry: to be an example for women chefs to visualize and realize their own success. In 2017, Brandwein accepted the James Beard Foundation's prestigious Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program fellowship. She earned additional scholarships from the foundation, as well as the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
With a dedication to responsibly and locally sourced ingredients, Brandwein became an early partner with DC Urban Greens, a nonprofit urban farm located in Ward 7 and 8, that provides fresh and affordable produce to the local community—Centrolina and Piccolina are DC Urban Green’s only wholesale client. In September 2017, Brandwein participated in the James Beard Foundation’s 10th Chefs Boot Camp for Policy and Change, a program dedicated to educating and training like minded chefs to become more effective leaders for the food- system change.
An advocate for charities that support healthy eating and ending hunger, Brandwein is also an active supporter of So Others Might Eat, DC Central Kitchen, and Martha's Table. She is a longtime member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and Re: Her.
Liz Martinez
General Manager & Certified Sommelier
Liz Martinez is a nationally acclaimed hospitality leader and certified sommelier with over 20 years of experience designing award-winning wine programs and elevating service standards across the country. Named Food & Wine magazine’s Sommelier of the Year in 2019, Liz has earned accolades from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Forbes, and more.
Her career began in Denver and blossomed in San Francisco at Boulevard Restaurant under Wine Director John Lancaster. Liz went on to shape service and wine programs at some of the nation’s top restaurants, including Rick Bayless’s Topolobampo, where her innovations led to consecutive James Beard nominations for Outstanding Service.
In Chicago, she gained national attention as Beverage Director of The Purple Pig, followed by her pioneering work as Wine Director at Detroit’s Prime + Proper, where she introduced dynamic selections to the local market and earned Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wine Restaurants recognition two years running.
Most recently, Liz served as Director of Beverage and Hospitality at Michigan’s Madam, where her wine program was named a James Beard Award semi-finalist. At Centrolina, Liz brings her signature mix of warmth, precision, and deep wine knowledge to every guest experience.
