Edna Lewis (1916-2006) is a legendary chef, writer, and activist. She is best known for reviving traditional Southern cooking and being a progenitor of the farm-to-table movement. Lewis was the granddaughter of freed slaves and grew up to inspire a generation of chefs. Her landmark cookbooks changed the perception of Southern food in American culture. Taste of County Cooking was one of the first cookbooks by an African-American woman to reach a nationwide audience. Her life inspired a novel, she has had her face on a US postage stamp, she has won multiple awards in the culinary world and has a foundation named in her honor.
Today we celebrate the Grand Dame of Southern Cooking, Edna Lewis, and the culinary legacy she left behind.
“One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been that I have never stopped learning about Good Cooking and Good Food.” ― Edna Lewis
