Three Pittsburgh Chefs 2020 James Beard Award Semifinalists

PITTSBURGH, PA — Three chefs in Pittsburgh are semifinalists for 2020 James Beard Awards. The regional semifinalists for the awards — sometimes referred to as the Oscars of the culinary
world — were announced Wednesday.

In Pittsburgh, the semifinalists are in the following categories:

• Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Christian Frangiadis, Spork, East Liberty; Wei Zhu, Chengdu Gourmet, Squirrel Hill.

• Outstanding Pastry Chef: Neil Blazin, Driftwood Oven, Lawrenceville.

The James Beard Awards, aka the James Beard Foundation Awards or simply the Beard Awards, are the food industry’s highest honor. They are designed to recognize those who are making America’s food culture more diverse and sustainable. Awards are given within six main categories: restaurant and chef, book, journalism, broadcast media, and restaurant design and leadership.