Virginia Willis (born December 29, 1966) is a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, chef, and on-air personality who specializes in Southern American cooking.
Virginia was born in Augusta, Georgia. As a child, she lived in Alexandria, Louisiana, where she learned about Cajun and Creole cuisine. In middle school her family relocated back to Georgia.
After earning a B.A. from the University of Georgia she attended the L'Académie de Cuisine in Maryland (graduating 1994) and the ÃÂcole de Cuisine LaVarenne in Burgundy, France (Grande Diplome, 1995).
Willis apprenticed to Southern food authority Nathalie Dupree, and then worked as the test kitchen director on Dupree's PBS cooking series. She has also worked as an editorial assistant to French cooking authority Anne Willan and as a Kitchen Director for celebrity television hosts Martha Stewart and Bobby Flay.
She has produced and directed television shows as Epicurious (The Discovery Channel), and Home Plate (2003). Currently she produces culinary video through Culinary Media Training and Productions, co-founded with colleague Cynthia Graubart.
Willis has appeared on Food Network Kitchen, CBS This Morning, Fox and Friends, Martha Stewart Living, Chopped (2007), Paula's Best Dishes (2008), and Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. She placed second on an episode of Food Network's Chopped (âÂÂBird in the PanâÂÂ) that aired on November 27, 2012. She also competed in Alex vs America in 2025.