Ford Fry
Ford Fry is a celebrity chef and award winning restaurateur based in Atlanta, Georgia. Fry’s portfolio of restaurants includes JCT. Kitchen & Bar, no. 246, The Optimist, King + Duke, St. Cecilia, The El Felix, Superica, Marcel, State of Grace, and BeetleCat. Fry was raised in Texas and studied at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont. He then worked as a chef in fine dining restaurants in Florida, Colorado, California, and Georgia before opening his first restaurant, the JCT. Kitchen & Bar in 2007. Several of Fry’s restaurants have received a variety of accolades. In October 2015, CBS This Morning described Fry as “one of the most prolific chefs and restaurateurs” in the United States.
Fry’s goal is to continue creating restaurants that are relevant, timeless and inspired, in spaces that are unique and soulful. He wants to run restaurants that are measured by customer satisfaction and growth, not just by sales. And he strives to teach his employees how to take the next steps in their careers by cultivating their talents and watching them come into their own. “I love finding talent in the region, and putting these people in an environment where they can learn and grow,” says Fry of his management philosophy.
Fry is known for creating dishes that are approachable and uncomplicated yet entirely new to his guests. He also sources local ingredients not only because they taste better but because it allows him to partner closely with suppliers and honor local harvests. Fry is also the founder of The JCT. Kitchen & Bar Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival which benefits Georgia Organics. This annual event presents an opportunity for chefs and attendees alike to meet producers and develop longstanding relationships to further support the local food movement. Fry also serves as a founding chef of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, which debuted in May 2011. Fry currently resides in Roswell, Georgia, with his wife and two sons. In his spare time, he enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his family.