BJ Lieberman, chef and owner of Chapman's, isColumbus chefs have made a few appearances as James Beard Award semifinalists, including James Anderson, owner of
, for best chef in the Great Lakes division, and Spencer Budros, co-owner of Pistacia Vera, for best pastry chef or baker, both in 2020.More:Lieberman is one of several Ohioans nominated as semifinalists for this year's awards. Fellow best chef nominees in the Great Lakes division include Francisco Alfaro of Mid-City Restaurant in Cincinnati; Becky Clark of Little Fish Brewing Co. in Athens; Hideki and Yuko Harada of Kiki in Cincinnati; and Allie La Valle-Umansky, Jeremy Umansky and Kenny Scott of Larder Delicatessen & Bakery in Cleveland.
Mita's in Cincinnati is nominated for outstanding restaurant, Nolia in Cincinnati is nominated for best new restaurant and Elaine Uykimpang Bentz of Café Mochiko in Cincinnati is nominated for best pastry chef or baker. Brandon Chrostowski of EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute in Cleveland is nominated for overall best restauranteur for this year's awards.
Finalists will be announced on March 29 and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard restaurant and chef awards ceremony on June 5 in Chicago.