3 Pittsburgh Chefs Named Prestigious James Beard Award Semifinalists

PITTSBURGH, PA — Chefs in Pittsburgh are well represented in the semifinalists announced Wednesday for the 2023 James Beard Awards, sometimes referred to as the Oscars of the culinary arts industry.

Named for the late chef, cookbook author and food presenter James Beard, the awards “recognize exceptional talent in the culinary and food media industries, as well as a demonstrated commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive,” the James Beard Foundation said Wednesday in a news release.

The semifinalists are recognized across 23 categories, including a new award for outstanding bakery.

Here are 2023 James Beard Award nominees from Pittsburgh in the outstanding chef category:

• Nik Forsberg of Fet-Fisk in Shaler. The eatery draws from Nordic heritage. What you might not know: "Fet Fisk" means "greasy fish" in Swedish.

• Kate Lasky and Tomasz Skowronski of Apteka, a Lawrenceville restaurant with Central and Eastern European cuisine.

Award nominees will be announced March 29, and the winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 5 at the Lyric Opera in Chicago.