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Canlis welcomes first Seattle-born executive chef in its 75-year history

Jun 4, 2025, 11:06 AM

Canlis Seattle new chef...

Seattle's Canlis restaurant. (MyNorthwest File Photo)

(MyNorthwest File Photo)

, one of the premier fine-dining establishments in Seattle, has promoted James Huffman to executive chef. He is the first Seattle-born chef to lead the kitchen in the restaurant’s 75-year history.

Huffman has been with Canlis for nearly a decade, according to , starting as a cook before working as executive sous chef. Before Canlis, he worked at Caf茅 Juanita and the old Purple Caf茅 in Kirkland. His first restaurant job was at Lake Forest Bar and Grill as a busboy.

Huffman, the eighth executive chef in the restaurant’s history, was selected from 72 possible candidates for the job.

“It鈥檚 a thrill,” Huffman told The Seattle Times in a phone interview. “I鈥檓 from Seattle, I鈥檝e only worked in the city, and I鈥檓 just really excited to be a part of the Canlis story and to continue to champion what this restaurant is about. I feel a little bit like the hometown kid playing quarterback for the Seahawks.”

How Huffman became Canlis’ executive chef

Huffman’s internal promotion is a significant departure, as Canlis usually hires chefs from outside the city, acquiring big names with Michelin-starred backgrounds. He was the interim executive chef after Aisha Ibrahim left earlier this year. Ibrahim was one of 11 chefs selected for 听补苍苍耻补濒听 in 2023. She was the first woman to be named executive chef for Canlis.

According to The Seattle Times, Huffman has already changed almost 90% of the menu, leaning into seasonal food. The “rave reviews” about the spring dishes Huffman was adding to the menu as the interim executive chef were a significant factor in Canlis’ decision to appoint him to the position permanently.

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Canlis welcomes first Seattle-born executive chef in its 75-year history