Virginia Willis
Georgia-born French-trained Chef Virginia Willis has made chocolate chip cookies with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, foraged for berries in the Alaskan wilderness, harvested capers in the shadow of a smoldering volcano in Sicily, 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. As one of the more well known female Southern chefs, Virginia has spoken at SXSW, cooked for the James Beard Foundation, and beguiled celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Morgan Freeman, Julie Chrisley, and Bill Clinton with her cooking — but it all started in her grandmother’s country kitchen.
Chicken and Rice Meatballs in Mushroom Gravy
Growing up, my mother made a meatball dish with Rice a Roni called porcupines. It consisted of ground beef, an egg, and a box of
Spicy Cauli-Mac and Cheese
Do we really need another Macaroni and Cheese recipe? According to Restaurant News, “US consumers were eating 19% more cheese per capita at the end
Southern New Year’s Day Food Traditions
Want to know why Southerners eat peas and greens? The science behind the salt and smoke? What about Vegan options for Southern New Year’s Day
Easy Chocolate Cocoa Bombs
Chocolate Cocoa Bombs have well, absolutely exploded this holiday season. I adore the idea, but cannot believe anyone would want to go to the trouble
GF Pear Banana Almond Cakes
When I decided to share this recipe for GF Pear Banana Almond Cakes it was a surprise to me. It would seem like the Banana
Recipe Makeover: Sausage-Pecan Balls
Everyone looks down their nose at sausage balls, pigs in a blanket, and meatballs in BBQ sauce, but the reality is that these popular nibbles