Three Pittsburgh restaurants and their chefs are getting national attention after being named semifinalists in the 35th annual James Beard Awards.
The chefs at vegan restaurant Apteka, located in Bloomfield, have been nominated for the fourth straight year for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic award, covering New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Additionally, Chengdu Gourmet’s chef Wei Zhu has been nominated in Best Chef Mid-Atlantic category.
Chengdu Gourmet, with locations in Squirrel Hill and Ross, is owned by Zhu and specializes in American Chinese and Sichuan cuisine.
Co-chefs Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski opened Apteka in 2016. They were featured in a TribLive story highlighting up-and-coming chefs in 2019.
Both vegans, Lasky and Skowronski maintain a Polish-dominant, central and eastern European menu.
“We both like good food and it’s important to us to make food that is both interesting and good,” said Lasky, a sixth-generation Pittburgher.
Scandinavian eatery and bar Fet-Fisk in Bloomfield is nominated in the Best New Restaurant category.
Led by chef Nik Forsberg, Fet-Fisk started in 2019 by hosting pop-up dinners across Pittsburgh. The Bloomfield restaurant, featuring Nordic seafood and sustainably sourced meat, opened in March 2024.
Apteka posted the nomination news on social media.
The James Beard Awards are considered to be among the nation’s most prestigious. They were established in 1990, named after the renowned chef who died in 1985.
The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting American food culture and supporting those in the industry.
Semifinalists are recognized across 25 categories that include three new categories this year: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.
“For 35 years, the James Beard Awards have stood as a testament to American food culture and its exceptional talent. What began as a celebration of culinary achievement has evolved into a platform leading chefs and the broader culinary industry towards a new standard of excellence,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation.
Anyone can nominate a chef or restaurant for consideration during the online open call that runs from October 1 through Nov. 29 and there is no entry fee.
Food trucks, pop-ups and restaurants are eligible for nominations, but must be open a minimum of twice per month to the public.
Winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards event held on June 16 at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
See the full list of semifinalists at the James Beard website.