Media Alert
April 25, 2023
Taylor Fuqua, Manager of PR & Marketing; tfuqua@VirginiaHistory.org; 804.342.9661
Richmond, Va – The Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC), The Inn at Little Washington and Virginia Tourism Corporation are excited to host an evening with Chef Patrick O’Connell, winner of the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chef and Sole Proprietor of The Inn at Little Washington, Virginia’s only three-star Michelin restaurant. On Wednesday, May 15th guests will enjoy a glass of wine and an amuse-bouche as Chef O’Connell, “the Pope of American Cuisine,” discusses his relationship with Julia Child and his own road to culinary greatness in a conversation with VMHC President & CEO Jamie Bosket.
Chef Patrick O’Connell is featured in the VMHC’s latest exhibition Julia Child: A Recipe for Life , which is on display now through September 2nd. The exhibition explores the key ingredients in Julia Child’s personal journey, which became part of America's culinary revolution, through a series of immersive experiences, with Chef O’Connell, featured as one of the best representations of her legacy. A self-taught cook who has become one of the most celebrated chefs of his time, Chef O’Connell poured over Child’s cookbooks, perfecting the recipes on a red, wood-burning stove which joins the exhibit as a physical representation of his impressive journey. As a mentee and later dear friend of Child’s, Chef O’Connell will illuminate her profound impact on his career and America’s culinary culture during this exclusive event.
Following the program, there will be a celebration of the bounty of Virginia, including a variety of small bites and a selection of wines from the Commonwealth’s best vineyards as guests enjoy after-hours access to the Julia Child: A Recipe for Life exhibition. Participating wineries include Barboursville Vineyards, RdV Vineyards, Ankida Ridge Vineyards, King Family Vineyards, Early Mountain Vineyards, Glen Manor Winery and Veritas Vineyards. Food producers include Autumn Olive Farms, Smoke in Chimneys, Calhoun’s Ham House & Country Deli, Rappahannock Oyster Co.
Due to an incredible response from the community, ticket sales for this event are now closed. Plan your next visit to the VMHC to check out Julia Child: A Recipe for Life at VirginiaHistory.org.
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The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society — a private, non-profit organization established in 1831. The historical society is the oldest cultural organization in Virginia, and one of the oldest and most distinguished history organizations in the nation. For use in its state history museum and its renowned research library, the historical society cares for a collection of more than 9 million items representing the ever-evolving story of Virginia.
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture is located at 428 N Arthur Ashe Boulevard in Richmond’s Museum District. For more information, call 804-340-1800, visit VirginiaHistory.org or connect using @VirginiaHistory on Facebook; X, formerly known as Twitter and Instagram.
Patrick O’Connell, a native of Washington, DC, is a self-taught chef who pioneered a refined, regional American cuisine in the Virginia countryside. In 1978, Patrick opened The Inn at Little Washington in a former garage in the tiny town of Washington, VA. Patrick and The Inn have gone on to enjoy worldwide recognition and regularly host celebrities, politicians, and culinary enthusiasts. He has been referred to as "the Pope of American Cuisine" and in 2019, won the Lifetime Achievement award from the James Beard Foundation. In November of the same year, he received the National Humanities Medal from the President of the United States. He holds honorary Doctorate degrees from both The College of William and Mary and Johnson and Wales University.
About The Inn at Little Washington
The Inn at Little Washington, a 23-room inn and three-Michelin-star restaurant is sprawled across a 24-acre campus of plentiful gardens, mountain views, winding trails, a farm and even a chicken coop complete with crystal chandelier. The Inn at Little Washington is known for being reverently irreverent as is felt through playful experiences, such as the cheese specialist with mooing cow cart that speaks exclusively in puns or the dining room dress code: “no wet bikinis.” Chef and Proprietor Patrick O’Connell was the subject of a highly praised documentary: The Inn at Little Washington: A Delicious Documentary, streaming on Amazon Prime. He was also bestowed with the James Beard Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. The Inn at Little Washington received the inaugural Michelin Green Star for a US restaurant dedicated to sustainable gastronomy. The Inn recently revealed a new English-style, glass-enclosed Conservatory dining room within the courtyard garden. A new addition to the kitchen is a crowning feature in fire-engine red - a completely custom Molteni range suite.
About Virginia Tourism Corporation:
Virginia is for Lovers is one of the most iconic and recognizable travel brands in the world. Using that powerful brand equity, Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is charged with promoting the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination by showcasing all there is to love in a Virginia vacation. The dollars spent by travelers fuel the economy, provide jobs for Virginians, and improve communities across the state. Simply put, tourism helps make Virginia a great place to live, work, and visit. Learn more at virginia.org