Meet Paul Anthony! Paul is an area manager at Performance Foodservice in Oakwood; and a former chef. He’s married to Whitney, and together they’re raising their son, Sawyer, who attends Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy.
We’re grateful to Paul for spending time with us recently and sharing more about his life and love of Hall County.
Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “My wife Whitney and I have been married for 13 years, we have an 8 year old son named Sawyer. We (Whitney and I) are both Gainesville High Graduates. We both work full time and Sawyer will be in 3rd grade at Enota next year. Both of our living parents are in Gainesville.”
Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
A: “Currently, I work for Performance Foodservice Atlanta (formally Milton’s). I am a sales rep selling to independent restaurants throughout north GA and Atlanta. As a former chef, I love getting the opportunity to go in the kitchen of so many different restaurants and seeing how different chefs and owners run their businesses. I also love getting to taste new and innovative products that are rolling out all the time.”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “That’s tough for me to answer (there are so many). Well, it’s important to note that along with Chris Richardson, I opened Recess as the first chef. So, Recess has a special place in my heart and has always been a favorite. Bluefin, Recess, El Tepache, Inn Between, and City Park Pizza.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: “Forty-two years lived, 26 worked with the exception of two years of culinary school in Chicago.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
A: “Trey McPhaul – he’s equally nice, funny, and smart. The type of person that you just want to be around.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “Barbados – Whitney and I went several years ago and I would just love to go back with my son.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “‘The Office,’ we have watched that show all the way through at least six times. ‘The Bear,’ turns out the real life restaurant where the show is filmed and based off of is one that my classmates and I would eat lunch at all the time in culinary school because it was within walking distance.
“A movie is a tough one, I have so many. ‘Star Wars’ (1-6), ‘Waiting’ (comedy about the restaurant), ‘Mallrats,’ ‘8 Mile,’ to name a few.
Q: What advice would you want to give or leave with people?
A: “Life is what you make it, don’t waste your time stressed out. Take a deep breath, a step back, and enjoy the ride.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “Purdue’s News Stand – it was in the spot beside Recess where Yellowfin was. My dad used to take me up there when I was a kid. The entire square will always have a special spot in my heart.”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
A: “Will Arnett, I think we would really get along. He seems to share the same humor and hobbies as me. We’d do Centro for lunch.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community? And secondly, what is something you hope our community has or does in the future?
A: “The new Dragon art installation is amazing especially at 12,3,6, &9 when it goes off. Also, I really hope our community leans into the accessibility of golf carts more. They are already welcomed, but I’d like to see more golf cart lanes and crossings.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five to 10 years?
A: “Honestly – I see myself still with PFG, maybe in a more management role but still on the sales side. Same house or at least the same neighborhood area. Cheering my son at high school baseball or whatever sport/extra curricula activity he’s in.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “Go to a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston.”
Q: What is something you have been proud to check off your bucket list?
A: “Adele in concert wasn’t necessarily a bucket list item at the time but looking back on it now, it definitely is.”
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
A: “Outkast.”
Q: In hard times we can sometimes see and recognize greatness in those around us. Hard working. Positive attitudes. Helping on the front lines. Who is one of our local shining lights today?
A: “Peggy from Bluefin is someone that is always a ray of sunshine, even in the hardest of times.”
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
A: “Jackson Hole.”
Q: Favorite month?
A: “March.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “Detroit Style pizza from Vinny’s off Lake Lanier Parkway.”
Q: What are one or two of your favorite smells?
A: “BBQ smokers – New Leather – California Pinot Noir.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “My wife Whitney Anthony.”
