Five pizza chefs have landed on the semifinalist list for this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards. They include:
- Chef Michele Di Bari, Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina (Lahaina, HI), and Via! by Sale Pepe (Kāʻanapali, HI)
- Leslie McCrorey Wells, Pizzeria Veritá, Trattoria Delia, Sotto Enoteca and others—Burlington, VT
- Peter Pastan, 2 Amy’s Neapolitan Pizzeria—Washington D.C.
- Luke Fetbroth, Tonino—Boston, MA
- Geri-Martha O’Hara and Ryan O’Hara, Pizza Grace—Birmingham, AL
Di Bari is reportedly Maui’s only certified pizzaiolo. He was recognized among 19 other semifinalists in the Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA) category.
“This is an incredible honor, for me, for our team and it is a testimony to the resilience of our Lahaina community,” Di Bari said in a press release. “For me, cooking has always been about joy, connection and bringing people together. These are Italian values and traditions that I grew up with, and I love to share them with my community. I am so honored to be considered for this award.”
The James Beard Awards are widely regarded as one of the highest honors in the culinary industry. The Best Chef category recognizes chefs who set high standards in culinary skill and leadership while helping create a strong and sustainable work culture in their regions. Nominees will be announced on Tuesday, March 31. Winners will be revealed at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 15, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
