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From the kitchens of École de Cuisine LaVarenne in Burgundy , France to the podium at the James Beard Awards , Virginia Willis is a force in the world of food . Willis has made it her mission to tell the story of modern-day Southern cuisine , showing how diverse and surprising it is . Her book Secrets of The Southern Table is due out in May .
Virginia answered a few questions for us about everything from baking cookies with The Rock to her favorite Southern food producers .
What inspires you in the kitchen ?
Seasonal ingredients , new tools , streamlining recipes , and adapting chef-inspired recipes for home cooks — I love my work , I love to cook , and the kitchen is my playground ! I find inspiration in so many things in the kitchen . For example , I just received an Instant Pot . As a chef and food writer , I feel that I need to stay up to date with equipment . It ’ s been fun to play around — I was able to make an incredible beef stock in a fraction of the time of the traditional method . I ’ m also currently working on a recipe-testing project for a sous vide machine for home cooks . The technological changes are incredible , — and I still really love my enormous Le Creuset French oven . In regards to specific ingredients , I don ’ t really have a favorite season . In spring , I love cooking with mushrooms and asparagus , but then summer rolls around and I ’ m excited about butterbeans and tomatoes . Every single bite can be a spark of inspiration . It really is true that if you love your job , you never work a day in your life . I am most grateful and very fortunate .
What is your Death Row meal ? Would you cook it ? Why or why not ?
I ’ ve been able to eat and enjoy delicious food all over the world . I ’ ve both worked and eaten in Michelin-starred restaurants . But , I have to say if I am looking at a last meal , I ’ d probably want down-home Southern comfort food — and preferably a roving dinner that never ends ! I ’ d want to cook it — cooking is one of my primary joys and gives me great pleasure . That would make for a good ending .
How much fun was it to bake cookies with Dwayne “ The Rock ” Johnson ?
He ’ s a big guy ! He was very nice and polite , not an egomaniac . I ’ ve been so fortunate to be able to cook with so many interesting and talented people and for so many interesting and talented people . I think food people , are , for the most part , good people . Sure , there are proverbial bad apples in every lot ,