Virginia Willis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Virginia Willis
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| Born | Georgia |
| Occupation | Chef, food writer, and content creator |
Virginia Willis is a well-known American chef, cookbook author, and TV personality. She was born on December 29, 1966. Virginia is famous for her delicious Southern American cooking. She has even won a special award called the James Beard Award for her work.
Her Early Life and Learning
Virginia Willis was born in Augusta, Georgia. As a child, she lived in Alexandria, Louisiana. There, she learned about different types of cooking, like Cajun and Creole cuisine. These are special cooking styles from Louisiana.
Later, her family moved back to Georgia. Virginia went to the University of Georgia and earned her first degree. After that, she studied cooking at two famous schools. She went to L'Académie de Cuisine in Maryland in 1994. Then, she studied at École de Cuisine LaVarenne in Burgundy, France, earning a special diploma in 1995.
Her Journey in Cooking
Virginia Willis started her career by working with famous chefs. She learned a lot from Nathalie Dupree, who is an expert in Southern food. Virginia also helped Nathalie with her cooking shows on PBS.
She also worked with Anne Willan, a French cooking expert. Virginia even helped famous TV hosts like Martha Stewart and Bobby Flay in their kitchens.
Virginia has also produced and directed TV shows. These include "Epicurious" on The Discovery Channel and "Home Plate." Today, she creates cooking videos with her friend Cynthia Graubart. They do this through their company, Culinary Media Training and Productions.
On TV Shows
You might have seen Virginia Willis on TV! She has appeared on many popular cooking shows. These include Food Network Kitchen, CBS This Morning, and Fox and Friends.
She has also been on Martha Stewart Living and Chopped. In 2012, she came in second place on an episode of Food Network's Chopped called “Bird in the Pan.” She also appeared on Paula's Best Dishes and Throwdown! with Bobby Flay.
Awards and Recognition
Virginia Willis has received many awards for her cookbooks and cooking. Here are some of her achievements:
- 2018: Her book Secrets of the Southern Table was named one of the “25 Books all Georgians Should Read.” This was by the Georgia Center for the Book.
- 2016: She won a James Beard Foundation Award of Excellence. This is a very important award in the food world.
- 2016: She was a finalist for the International Association of Culinary Professionals Best American Cookbook.
- 2009: Her book Bon Appétit, Y’all was also named one of the “25 Books all Georgians Should Read.”
- 2008: She was a finalist for the International Association of Culinary Professionals Best American Cookbook for Bon Appétit, Y’all.
