Virginia Willis
Culinary Enterprises, Atlanta, Georgia-
Georgia-born French-trained Chef Virginia Willis has made chocolate chip cookies with Dwanye “The Rock” Johnson, foraged for berries in the Alaskan wilderness, harvested capers in the shadow of a smoldering volcano in Sicily, and beguiled celebrities such as Jane Fonda, and hunted for truffles in France. She is talent and chef-instructor for the digital streaming platform Food Network Kitchen; her segments feature authentic and innovative Southern cooking. She specializes in chef-inspired recipes for home cooks.
She was the celebrity chef at the Mansion at Churchill Downs for the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby. Virginia has spoken at SXSW, cooked for the James Beard Foundation, and beguiled celebrities such as Bill Clinton, Morgan Freeman, and Jane Fonda with her cooking — but it all started in her grandmother’s country kitchen.
Virginia is the author of “Secrets of the Southern Table: A Food Lover’s Tour of the Global South”, “Lighten Up, Y’all”, “Bon Appétit, Y’all”, “Basic to Brilliant”, “Y’all, Okra”, and “Grits”. “Lighten Up, Y’all: Classic Southern Recipes Made Healthy and Wholesome” received a 2016 James Beard Foundation Award of Excellence. She is the former TV kitchen director for Martha Stewart Living, Bobby Flay, and Nathalie Dupree; has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants; and traveled the world producing food stories – from making cheese in California to escargot farming in France.
Virginia has appeared on Martha Bakes,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” Bravo, “Headline News,” Food Network's “Chopped,” “Fox Family and Friends,” “Martha Stewart Living,” “In the Kitchen with David” on QVC, CNN International, and as a judge on “Throw Down with Bobby Flay.” As a nationally recognized food and entertaining authority she has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and USA Today as well as Serious Eats, FoodNetwork.com, and Tasting Table. She writes for All Recipes, Eating Well, Garden & Gun, Weight Watchers, and more. The Chicago Tribune praised her as one of "Seven Food Writers You Need to Know." Her legion of fans loves her down-to-earth attitude, approachable spirit and traveling exploits.
