2 Seattle chefs make James Beard shortlist

Two Seattle chefs have made the shortlist for the James Beard Awards, the highest honors in the culinary world.

Aaron Tekulve of Surrell and Johnny Courtney of Atoma are nominated for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific, the awards announced yesterday.

Zoom in: Surrell, which offers five course and 11-12 course tasting menus, opened in late 2021 in Madison Valley.

• Atoma, which opened in Wallingford in 2023, was nominated for a James Beard Award last year for best new restaurant, but didn't win.
• More than a dozen other semifinalists from Washington state didn't make the cut this year.

What's next: The winners will be announced June 15.