News

Orange County, VA –Orange County is pleased to announce The Edna Lewis Menu Trail program a winner of the 2023 NACo Achievement Award. Through this initiative, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism aims to highlight Orange County’s Black history, agriculture, and current culinary industries while commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the release of Edna Lewis’ first cookbook – The Edna Lewis Cookbook.

Known as the Grand Dame of Southern Cooking – her cookbooks are seminal works on farm-to-table dining, southern cuisine, and Black history.

The Menu Trail program has attracted national media attention and visitors from afar featuring Orange County restaurant stops along the way.

Julie Perry, Assistant Director of Economic Development and Tourism says, “The Edna Lewis Menu Trail has been an important tool to tell Mrs. Lewis’ story and explain how her life in Orange County shaped her culinary perspective and Southern Cuisine.”

Through The Menu Trial, Orange County has helped preserve history, a way of life and the cultural contributions made by generations of African American women in the South.

Visitors can experience The Edna Lewis Menu trail now through Memorial Day.

For more information visit https://visitorangevirginia.com/taste/the-edna-lewis-menu-trail/ or contact Julie Perry at jperry@orangecountyva.gov.

Read more here.