A Fresh Take on a Classic Southern Cookbook | Listen

Virginia Willis gives her first book, Bon Appetit, Y’all, a glow-up

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Chef, author, media personality, and recipe developer Virginia Willis has made a name for herself as a Southern food expert who has become vocal about her lifestyle and health. In 2008, she published her first book, Bon Appetit, Y’all, to acclaim and accolades, and then followed it with Lighten Up, Y’all, which won a James Beard Award. Sixteen years after its original release, Willis released a revised version of her first book, this time with a new publisher and a number of updates. In her own quest for maintaining a healthier lifestyle, Willis reworked the original recipes into lighter, but still flavor-packed, dishes that work for the way she eats today. We connected with Willis to learn more about what went into her revision process and what you can expect from the updated version of Bon Appetit, Y’all: Recipes and Stories from Three Generations of Southern Cooking, Revised and Updated, with New Recipes (University of Georgia Press).