Virginia Willis

Virginia Willis

Willis at the 2015 Texas Book Festival
Born (1966-12-29) December 29, 1966
Augusta, Georgia
Occupation Chef
Nationality American
Website
virginiawillis.com

Virginia Willis (born December 29, 1966) is an American chef, writer, food stylist, and photographer whose work has focused on American Southern and French cuisine. She is the author of 5 cookbooks and creator of the blog "Down Home Comfort" on FoodNetwork.com. In 2012, she was named by the Chicago Tribune as one of “Seven Food Writers You Need to Know.”[1] In 2016, Willis announced that she is in development with WGBH for a television series called Secrets of the Southern Table: A Food Lover's Tour of the Global South.

Virginia was born in Augusta, Georgia and moved to Alexandria, Louisiana when she was 3 years old. Her family relocated back to Georgia when she was in middle school. After beginning college at age 16, Willis earned a B.A. from University of Georgia in 1988. She began her studies in culinary arts at L'Academie de Cuisine in Maryland and graduated in 1994. She later continued her education abroad at Ecole de Cuisine LaVarenne in Burgundy, France and graduated with a Grande Diplome in 1995.

Willis’ first job in a professional kitchen was as an apprentice to Southern food authority Nathalie Dupree. Since working as Test Kitchen Director on Dupree’s PBS cooking series, she has worked on over 1000 TV episodes. Willis worked as Editorial Assistant to French cooking authority Anne Willan, during which time she was an Editor for the All New Joy of Cooking (1996-1997). Beginning in 1997, Willis worked as Kitchen Director for celebrity television hosts Martha Stewart and Bobby Flay. In 2000, she began her production career, producing and directing such shows as Epicurious (The Discovery Channel) and Home Plate (Turner Studios).

Willis has been featured in USA Today,[2] Country Living,[3] House Beautiful,[4] Food52,[5] The Washington Post,[6] and CNN.com.[7] Her writing has been published in Southern Living,[8] Family Fun, Fine Cooking,[9] All Recipes, and Taste of the South.[10] She has appeared on Fox and Friends,[11] Martha Stewart Living Television,[12] Paula Deen's Best Dishes, and Throwdown! with Bobby Flay.[13] Willis placed second on an episode of Food Network's Chopped (“Bird in the Pan”) that aired on November 27, 2012.

Willis is on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Blue Ribbon Task Force and the Atlanta Community Food Bank Advisory Board. She is a past president of the Atlanta chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier.

Willis currently splits her time between Atlanta, Georgia and Hatfield, Massachusetts. She travels around the United States and Mexico teaching cooking classes and speaking about food.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Daley, Bill. "Dishing about Food Writing". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Schwarz, Michael A. "Winter Greens and Butternut Squash Gratin". USA Today. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Kernick, John. "Traditional Easter Menu". Country Living. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Green, Penelope. "Virginia Willis brings France to her Atlanta kitchen to create 'refined Southern cuisine'". House Beautiful. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Willis, Virginia. "How to Make Grits without a Recipe". Food52.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Benwick, Bonnie. "The Blended, Bountiful Table". Washington Post. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  7. ↑ Eatocracy Editors. "5@5 - Virginia Willis - Southern is a State of Mind". CNN.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Just Ripe for Summer". SouthernLiving.com. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Willis, Virginia. "How to Make Hoppin' John". Fine Cooking (120). Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Dishing with Virginia Willis". Taste of the South. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Canning and Preserving". FoxNews.com. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Martha Stewart Living Television". MarthaStewart.com. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Fried Green Tomato BLT (Season 9, Episode 9)". Imdb.com. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
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