Chef Joe Truex

Chef Joe Truex, a native Southerner, has introduced his unique style of Southern cuisine to Watershed's menu since he became Executive Chef and Partner in 2010. His classic approach to cooking transforms traditional Southern dishes into something distinctive and exciting. His cooking refreshes our ideas about how creative and delicious Southern food can be. Chef Truex has a keen understanding of the connection between food and wine and brings his passion for wine to the Southern table.

Chef Joe Truex currently lives in Decatur, Georgia. He grew up in the small town of Mansura, Louisiana, attended Louisiana State University, and began his culinary training in New Orleans at Fairmont Hotel in 1986. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in New York (class of '89), he worked at the original Le Cirque under Chef Daniel Boulud, and continued his training overseas in Basel, Switzerland and back in the states in Las Vegas and New York City. Chef Joe Truex was most recently Chef at the prominent Atlanta restaurant Repast. Chef Truex says "after exploring many different influences on food, cooking at Watershed feels like coming home."

Watershed's owner Emily Saliers is enthusiastic about what Chef Truex brings to Watershed. "Chef Truex is a brilliant Chef who truly understands the Southern food culture. He shares our commitment to seasonal, local and sustainably sourced ingredients and creates an exciting menu based on those principles. We are thrilled to have Chef Truex at the helm of the Watershed kitchen."