The secret behind new local Canlis Chef James’ success? LFP family and friends

James Huffman with wife Erica (left) and mom Lydia (right) celebrate his promotion to Canlis Executive Chef on the Canlis roof garden
Photo courtesy Lydia Huffman

By Jamie Holter

It’s been all over the foodie world in recent weeks. Lake Forest Park resident and Edmonds College Culinary program graduate James Huffman was recently named Executive Chef at Seattle’s world famous Canlis restaurant.

Competition there has always been fierce (not ‘Cutthroat Kitchen’ fierce, but competitive nonetheless). Canlis hires only the best chefs and only after a worldwide search. 

As we learned this month, it turns out the best chef and the best person was there already, working in the Canlis kitchen for nearly a decade.

Chef James’ mom, who still affectionately calls him Sweet Baby James on occasion, says his recipe for success comes from a childhood and community created and slowly simmered in Lake Forest Park: food, family and memories.

“James is one of the kindest, most generous human beings I’ve known in my life,” Lydia Huffman says of her baby, the last of four children. “He created his own path.”

Lydia Huffman and her husband raised their children in LFP. Their house was a neighborhood center. Everyone was welcome to stay and eat. And they did. 

The ‘family’ grew larger when James met his high school sweetheart Erica, who came from an equally large Filipino family. Hearts and tables grew exponentially with laughter and lots of food preparation. 

“These unique families are his driving inspiration,” Huffman said.

James did his time in the kitchen, working at Dicks, Purple, Cafe Juanita and finally Canlis. At each stop, his close family visited and dined.

But even that closeness didn’t prepare them for his big announcement.

“He told each of us individually in his own way.”

 

Erica created a video as James told family and friends about his promotion to Executive Chef at Canlis

James’ high school sweetheart turned wife Erica (they married in 2024) captured all the big reveals and put them into one video. For Lydia (who, it turns out, was the last to know), it was a lovely dinner at Canlis and an invite to the rooftop for a nightcap. 

James' mom Lydia found out about her son's historic promotion with a banner and cheering from all 56 Canlis staff members on the rooftop terrace. Photo courtesy Lydia Huffman

When she got there, all 56 staff members were in place. The banner unfurled and the cheering began. “I couldn’t stop sobbing,” Huffman said.

Lydia was thrilled. But surprised? Not really. “The Canlis family - Mark and Brian - and the staff family - is like our family. It’s a family, a welcoming loving environment. You wish this for every child… to find joy,” Huffman said.

She said the card from the Canlis family was simple. “If you want this, it is yours. Now the work really begins.”

She also says James’ fried chicken is the best, but it's currently not on the Canlis menu. Darn!