After years of helping other chefs into the spotlight on PBS, The Discovery Channel, Lifetime TV, and other places, it appears Georgia born Virginia Willis is about to take the stage and become the next celebrity chef, according to this interesting article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Author of the popular cookbook, Bon Appetit, Y’All: Recipes and Stories from Three Generations of Southern Cooking, Willis is a classically trained chef with degrees from L’Academie de Cuisine and Ecole de Cuisine LaVarenne who has worked for Southern food expert Nathalie Dupree of Charleston, SC, later becoming the kitchen director for Martha Stewart’s original television series in New York.

According to Virginia’s official biography:

“As part of her work for Martha Stewart, Virginia was also responsible for preparing private events for Martha and her guests — including among others, President Clinton, Aretha Franklin, and Julia Child. As Executive Producer for Epicurious on The Discovery Channel, she traveled the world taping fantastic stories about food - from harvesting capers in the shadow of a smoldering volcano to making mustard in Dijon.”

Here’s 5 Easy Seafood Recipes by Virginia Willis:

You can enjoy more recipes from Virginia Willis on the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s recipe pages here.

If you liked this article, you might also enjoy: 911 Cooking Emergency: Nathalie Dupree to the Rescue.

Here’s a hearty and wonderful summer friendly recipe for Chef Rick Moonen’s Catfish Sloppy Joe from Esquire. Tilapia can be substituted for the catfish if you prefer.

Ingredients:

8 oz skinless catfish (or tilapia) fillet, cut into 1/3-inch dice
Coarse salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced (about 3/4 cup)
1 small green bell pepper, diced (about 3/4 cup)
2 tsp paprika
1 cup barbecue sauce
Unsalted butter
2 oversized burger buns (or other soft rolls), split horizontally

How to Make Chef Rick Moonen’s Catfish Sloppy Joe
See More of Hugging the Coast’s Fish For Friday Recipes