Kate Lasky

The Climb

That setting established an early working language around dough, filling, and the shared table, and it gave her practice in a service model where consistency matters as much as expression. Today, Kate is chef / co-owner / co-chef of Apteka (since 2016). The title is brief; the work behind it is not. Running a kitchen in that configuration requires coordination, continuity, and the daily discipline of keeping the line moving without losing the restaurant’s point of view.

Today

Since 2016, she has led Apteka as co-owner and co-chef. In 2016, StarChefs featured her Sauerkraut-Mushroom Pierogi, along with Mustard-Almond-Yogurt Sauce and Chives associated with the restaurant’s pierogi dish. The plate put the restaurant’s voice in focus: a composed pierogi dish with layered savory elements and finishing notes that frame the filling rather than overpower it.

Signature

Kate's signature dishes include Sauerkraut-Mushroom Pierogi and Mustard-Almond-Yogurt Sauce and Chives. Read together, they point to a kitchen that works through balance, structure, and restraint. The dishes also suggest repetition as method: made, adjusted, and returned to as part of the daily work of a restaurant.

In Their Words “We have an absolutely amazing group of people right now who are a part of this and are committed to doing a great job every day and keeping this a happy and healthy environment where we’re all really supportive of each other.” “So when something like this happens, it’s amazing.” The remarks point to the operating conditions around the food: a kitchen built on support, shared responsibility, and the social discipline that keeps service stable.

Recognition

Kate's honors include James Beard Award finalist, Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region (2023) and StarChefs Rust Belt Rising Stars Award. The recognition matches a career defined by sustained work at Apteka and by a profile that has traveled beyond Pittsburgh without losing its local frame.