About
Rocky is currently available for culinary leadership roles, private chef engagements, and guest-focused hospitality projects, and is open to relocation.
Rocky Barnette is a chef whose work is shaped by place, season, and lived experience. He spent much of his childhood in the kitchen with his great grandmother, learning to cook through repetition, patience, and respect for ingredients. At eighteen, a short trip to Mexico turned into several months living in a remote village, cooking simple food over fire and learning how deeply food is tied to daily life. That experience stayed with him and led him to culinary school, setting the foundation for a career rooted in craft and intuition.
Rocky trained in fine dining at The Inn at Little Washington, where he spent eight years as Executive Sous Chef in a Michelin three star, Forbes Five Star kitchen. He later co owned and led Capri Bar and Restaurant in Marfa, Texas, building a destination restaurant centered on seasonal cooking and genuine hospitality. He is the author of Cooking in Marfa, published by Phaidon Press, which reflects his belief that food should be an honest expression of its environment.
Experience Highlights:
Former Executive Sous Chef at The Inn at Little Washington
Chef and Co-Owner of Capri Bar and Restaurant in Marfa, Texas
Author of Cooking in Marfa (Phaidon Press)
Private chef with experience supporting small, collaborative kitchen teams
Today, Rocky works as a private chef and culinary guide, creating intimate dining experiences both indoors and in wild places. An avid long distance hiker, he is drawn to environments where food, land, and community intersect. Whether cooking for a family, a small group, or over an open fire, his approach remains the same: thoughtful food, cooked with care, meant to be shared.
He is comfortable working in remote environments and living on site as part of a guest-focused team.
For inquiries regarding private chef services, culinary leadership roles, or collaborations, please get in touch.
Email: josephrockwell@gmail.com
Services
Private Chef & Culinary Consulting
Rocky offers private chef services for individuals, families, retreats, and special gatherings. Each experience is thoughtfully planned around seasonality, sourcing, and the setting itself. His work ranges from intimate dinners to multi-day engagements, with an emphasis on calm execution, consistency, and food that feels both nourishing and considered. He is also available for culinary consulting, menu development, and kitchen leadership support for restaurants, lodges, and guest-focused properties.
Experiential Dining & Outdoor Cooking
Rocky creates dining experiences rooted in place, often outside traditional kitchen environments. From remote locations to outdoor gatherings, his approach centers on simplicity, fire, and ingredients handled with care. These experiences are designed to feel grounded and unforced, allowing food to become part of the landscape rather than the focus of spectacle.
Cooking Classes & Workshops
Private classes and small-group workshops are available by request. Sessions are tailored to the interests and skill level of participants and focus on foundational technique, ingredient awareness, and practical cooking skills. Workshops may include knife skills, open-fire cooking, and seasonal menu planning.