Seattle’s dining scene just scored a serious flex on the national stage, with two local chefs landing in the finals for one of the restaurant world’s most coveted honors.
Johnny Courtney of Atoma and Aaron Tekulve of Surrell were both named finalists Tuesday in the James Beard Awards, securing two of the precious few spots in the Best Chef: Northwest & Pacific category.
Who Made the Cut
The James Beard Foundation rolled out its 2026 list of finalists on Tuesday, and Courtney and Tekulve appear on the short list for the Northwest & Pacific region, according to Eater. The Restaurant & Chef Awards are widely regarded as some of the industry’s top honors, often seen as career-defining recognition for chefs and restaurants.
Local Coverage
Word of the local wins traveled fast. The Puget Sound Business Journal quickly flagged the news and broke down how Seattle stacked up in the regional field. Puget Sound Business Journal highlighted Courtney and Tekulve alongside a slate of other Northwest & Pacific nominees.
About Atoma and Surrell
Atoma, led by Johnny Courtney, has built a reputation for seasonal, Pacific Northwest-driven tasting menus served in an intimate Wallingford dining room, according to the restaurant’s website. Atoma and Surrell, Aaron Tekulve’s operation on Capitol Hill, have both drawn strong local praise for their technique-forward cooking and attentive hospitality.
How Seattle Got Here
This week’s finalist nods follow a packed semifinalist slate earlier in the year. The foundation released a longer January list that featured more than a dozen Seattle chefs and restaurants. Axios Seattle noted at the time that the semifinalists would be narrowed to nominees on March 31, part of the James Beard Awards’ usual march toward the June ceremony.
The Restaurant and Chef winners are set to be announced during the James Beard ceremonies in Chicago in mid‑June, with the Restaurant and Chef Awards scheduled for June 15, according to Eater. For Seattle diners and the teams behind Atoma and Surrell, the finalist news is both a reason to celebrate and a high-profile spotlight on the city’s continually evolving food scene.
