Work With Me

Topics covered include:

• Identifying and articulating message points
• The "dos and don'ts" of interviews
• Selecting and preparing recipes for demonstration
• Giving effective sound bites on-air

Specific learning objectives include:

• Understand how to create and lead strong, interesting, mutually-beneficial segments for television, internet, radio, print, and personal appearances
• Learn how to build a "media tool kit"
• Learn how to physically and mentally prepare for appearances, interviews and demonstrations
• Gain many practical tips and ideas for improving responses to questions during interviews and appearances
• Develop a game plan for addressing individual weaknesses and anxieties 
• Live taping and constructive critique. 

• Kitchen director for Martha Stewart Living Television
• Kitchen director for The Main Ingredient with Bobby Flay on Lifetime
• Three PBS series for Nathalie Dupree
• Executive producer for Epicurious on The Discovery Channel
• Producer of Home Plate on Turner South

Testimonials

"Virginia Willis can do anything. Virginia can step into a project that is in chaos and calmly, positively, organize and get it done."- Shirley O. Corriher, Author of CookWise

"Virginia Willis has shown an extraordinary excellence at a wide range of culinary activities. She is well trained, classically and in American cuisine, particularly Southern. I've loved working with her and would recommend her for nearly any culinary related activity."- Nathalie Dupree, Southern cooking authority

"Virginia is one of strongest branches on my own personal networking tree—her skill for putting the right people together to create an entirely new phenomenon is a wonder to behold! She charms our customers with her amazing food knowledge, delivered in an easy, accessible and personable style!" - Cheryl Galway, Whole Foods Market, Regional Marketing Director, South Region

"Delicious! That describes the recipes developed for us by Virginia Willis Culinary Productions. We gave them very little lead-time and they were able to meet our requirements with time to spare. We were extremely pleased with the work they did for us and wouldn't hesitate to utilize them again for future development." - Cheryl Mangus, Assistant Project Manager for Fresh Express

"Watching Virginia cook in front of a crowd is a study in organization meets artistry. Her enthusiasm for getting it right and her focus on detail is inspiring. She shares the joy of creating recipes inspired by world travel or perhaps just a perfect July tomato." - Carolyn O'Neil, Author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous!, former CNN Food & Health Correspondent

"As a cooking teacher Virginia's depth of experience and knowledge in the culinary world combined with her passion, creativity, and great personality can culminate in nothing but pleasure for the student. And, it will certainly be beneficial that she knows how to manage a project - she's on time, on target, and on budget. I can give her nothing less than my highest recommendation." - Mary Moore, Owner Cook's Warehouse

"Virginia Willis is a godsend. Not only does she know how to write a recipe that even a novice could follow, but also an engaging story that will entice them to start making a grocery list. Although her culinary credentials are impeccable, her style is friendly and accessible, and her passion and enthusiasm for all things food-related is contagious. Her copy never fails to come in before deadline, clean, and error-free. Her name should be an every newspaper or magazine food editor's Rolodex!" - Susan Puckett, Food Editor for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

"Virginia Willis was first a trainee and then a member of staff with LaVarenne Cooking School in Burgundy, France. Our training is rigorous and she emerged with flying colors. I'd hire her again any day!" - Anne Willan, Founder and Director of Ecole de Cuisine LaVarenne

DISCLOSURE TO READERS: I am sometimes compensated to work with brands and companies and am involved in various other food-related projects.
I do not accept payment to publish positive feedback on a product.

All opinions in my written posts are entirely my own.