Pittsburgh shines with nominations at the prestigious James Beard Awards

The James Beard Foundation announced the nominees for the 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards in April 2025, recognizing some of the best talents in the culinary industry. Pittsburgh is highlighted in these nominations, with Fet-Fisk Restaurant and Bar, which is located in Bloomfield, nominated for the Best New Restaurant category. Fet-Fisk has an interesting history as it began in 2019 through pop-up dinners around the city featuring new menus each week. In 2024, it transitioned to a traditional venue, allowing it to further showcase its dedication to regional produce and sustainably sourced ingredients. Additionally, the founder and CEO of Cafe Momentum, Chad Houser, received a nomination for the Humanitarian of the Year Award. This Dallas-based nonprofit eatery aims to provide a supportive employment environment for at-risk youth and chose Pittsburgh for its expansion in March 2023. Houser's commitment to both the culinary and social sectors reflects the growing importance of humanitarian efforts within the food industry. Both nominees reflect the rich culinary scene developing in Pittsburgh and the significance of recognizing both culinary excellence and humanitarian efforts in this prestigious awards ceremony. In Los Angeles and Orange County, several chefs and establishments also gained nominations during the announcement. The Best Chef nominations included Jon Yao from Kato Los Angeles and Daniel Castillo of Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano. Other notable mentions from the area include Long Beach's Gusto Bread for Outstanding Bakery and Strong Water in Anaheim for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program. The competition showcases the diverse array of culinary styles in California, highlighting the excellence of established chefs and new talent alike. The James Beard Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of food, have been recognizing excellence in the culinary world since their inception in 1990. The upcoming ceremony for the 2025 awards is scheduled for June 16 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where winners across various categories will be announced. With the expansion of recent beverage-focused categories, the awards also emphasize the crucial role of beverage professionals in the gastronomic community, making this year one of the most anticipated in their history.