Anne Willan
Anne Willan is recognized as one of the world's preeminent authorities on French cooking. She founded the Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris in 1975, and after more than thirty years in France, the school now has its headquarters in the U.S.A.
Born in Newcastle, England, Anne received her Masters degree from Cambridge University, then studied and taught cooking in London and Paris before moving to the United States. Early in her career Anne was an associate editor of Gourmet and food editor of the Washington Star. She currently writes a food column for the Tribune Media Services International food syndicate. Anne was elected to the Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America in 1986 and was honored in 1995 both as Grande Dame of Les Dames d'Escoffier International and with the Silver Spoon Award from Food Arts Magazine. In 1999, The International Association of Culinary Professionals recognized Anne with their prestigious Lifetime Achievement award.
Anne Willan has written over two dozen books, including the influential La Varenne Pratique and the photo-illustrated Look and Cook series, showcased in her 26-part PBS programs. Her international outreach, with books published in two dozen countries and translated in 24 languages, makes her the most internationally renowned of today's cooking authorities. Anne's last book was The Country Cooking of France (Chronicle Books, 2007). Others include The Good Cook (2004) and Quick Fixes and Kitchen Tips (2005). Currently Anne is working on a history of cookbooks for The University of California Press.
Anne served as President of the International Association of Culinary Professionals in 1990-1991 and was Treasurer of the IACP Foundation from 1999 to 2003. She is now an honorary trustee of the Culinary Trust.
