Today we’d like to introduce you to Chef Guy Sockrider.
Chef Guy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Chef Guy Sockrider’s culinary journey began more than four decades ago, shaped early on by classical training in France under the legendary Roger Vergé at Le Moulin de Mougins. That formative experience instilled in him a deep respect for technique, creativity, and the belief that good food is a foundation to true happiness—a philosophy that has guided every step of his career.
Returning to the United States, Chef Sockrider steadily built an impressive résumé across some of the country’s most respected kitchens, including Commander’s Palace, the World Trade Center in New Orleans, and the award-winning Top O’ the Cove in La Jolla. His leadership would go on to make an impact in luxury hotels, iconic New Orleans institutions, high-volume destinations like Disneyland, national food manufacturing, and even large-scale healthcare systems, where he oversaw culinary operations serving tens of thousands weekly. He also served as Consulting Executive Chef for the New Orleans World’s Fair, collaborating with dozens of restaurants and overseeing operations for millions of attendees.
Throughout his career, Chef Sockrider has balanced creativity with operational excellence—developing menus, mentoring teams, implementing profitable systems, and elevating culinary standards wherever he goes. His work has earned recognition from the American Culinary Federation, the Southern California Restaurant Writers, the New Orleans Wine Experience, and numerous national publications and television programs.
Most recently, Chef Sockrider was appointed Executive Chef at Paulette’s Restaurant at the River Inn of Harbor Town, where he has already begun elevating the historic culinary program through refined technique, thoughtful menu development, and signature dining experiences.
Whether leading acclaimed restaurant kitchens, consulting nationwide, or teaching the next generation of culinary professionals, Chef Sockrider remains driven by the same guiding belief that inspired him at the start: that thoughtfully prepared food has the power to bring people joy, create connection, and enrich life in meaningful ways.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Since joining the team at Paulette’s, Chef Guy has focused on returning the kitchen to the fundamentals of classic French technique—making everything from scratch, respecting each ingredient, and refusing to cut corners. While change can sometimes be challenging, his commitment to these foundational practices is already setting the stage for the continued elevation and long-term betterment of Paulette’s.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Chef Guy Sockrider is a classically trained Certified Executive Chef who specializes in refined French technique and elevated, ingredient-driven cuisine. He is known for revitalizing culinary programs through thoughtful menu development, hands-on leadership, scratch preparation, and an uncompromising respect for quality. His work spans high-end hotels, iconic New Orleans institutions, national restaurant operations, culinary education, consulting, and award-winning dining rooms, but he’s most proud of the teams he has built and mentored along the way. What truly sets him apart is his ability to combine world-class technique with operational excellence, all while staying grounded in his guiding philosophy that “good food is a foundation to true happiness.”
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
“My best advice is to get hired by a confident chef and learn everything you can from everyone in the kitchen! Read a lot of culinary books and practice your craft whenever you can.” – Chef Guy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paulettes.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulettesmemphis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paulettesmemphis/
