Ford Fry

Ford Fry is an American chef and restaurateur recognized for his impact on Southern cuisine and the restaurant industry. Fry is the founder and CEO of Rocket Farm Restaurants, a hospitality group that operates more than two dozen restaurant concepts across the Southeastern United States and Texas, with a focus on creative, neighborhood-oriented Southern dining. CBS This Morning has described Fry as one of the most prolific chefs and restaurateurs in the United States.

After attending the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont, Fry worked as a fine-dining chef in Florida, Colorado, and California, advancing to executive chef roles at luxury hotel brands such as Ritz-Carlton. His culinary journey eventually led him to Atlanta, where he opened his first restaurant, "JCT. Kitchen & Bar," in the Westside neighborhood. Fry received a StarChefs Rising Star Award for his work. He later opened "The Optimist," a sustainable seafood eatery and oyster bar.

Fry's restaurant group includes 27 restaurants in cities such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, Winter Park, Raleigh, and Houston. His portfolio features a range of culinary styles, including Italian-inspired "No. 246," European steakhouse "Marcel," Tex-Mex-driven "Superica," and seafood-focused "BeetleCat." Each restaurant is chef owned and operated, committed to its community, and emphasizes local ingredients and culinary craftsmanship.

"Marcel" was recommended in the MICHELIN Guide for Atlanta, with "Little Sparrow" also joining the guide and "Superica" earning a Bib Gourmand distinction. "The Optimist" was named Best New Restaurant of the Year by Esquire, included among the 50 best new restaurants in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, and ranked as the No. 7 best new restaurant in America by Bon Appétit. Fry is a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist and has received honors such as Georgia Restaurant Association's Restaurateur of the Year, Eater Atlanta's Empire Builder of the Year, and StarChefs Rising Star.

Fry has also authored the cookbook "Tex-Mex: Traditions, Innovations, and Comfort Foods from Both Sides of The Border." He founded the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival in Atlanta, an annual event now led by Georgia Organics that brings together chefs, mixologists, and local farmers to create tomato-inspired dishes. Fry's restaurants are known for their commitment to community, local ingredients, and a philosophy of creating dining experiences that foster connection across generations.