The Edna Lewis Foundation

05/24/2026

https://www.theednalewisfoundation.org/copy-of-scholarship

The 2026 Edna Lewis Foundation Scholars Awards application is still open - deadline June 13, 2026. Please pass along.

Edna Lewis was an early champion of Southern cookery. Her devotion to Black foodways through education and mentorship shaped generations of chefs and food enthusiasts. The Edna Lewis Foundation extends her legacy through programming and scholarships that support the next generation of Black foodway....

05/01/2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/dining/edna-lewis-taste-of-country-cooking.html?smid=url-share

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of “The Taste of Country Cooking!”

Fifty years since its publication, the Virginia chef and writer’s pioneering cookbook continues to hold sway.

04/20/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18TtFM8CJG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/16/2026

As a proud board member of the Edna Lewis Foundation, I’m asking you to join us at Edna’s Table. Edna Lewis wrote the book that changed how America understood Southern food. Edna Lewis Foundation invites you to join us for a special night that commemorates the 50th anniversary of The Taste of Country Cooking and raises funds for the Foundation’s programs and scholarships.

In 1988, Chef Edna Lewis brought Southern cooking to Gage & Tollner. We’re returning to Edna’s Table on Tuesday, May 5th, with chefs Mashama Bailey, Leah Branch, Adrienne Cheatham, and Sohui Kim for a not-to-be-missed dinner honoring her legacy.

This evening is made possible by our partners BEM Cultural Foundation, Gage & Tollner, and Knopf Cooks. Tickets are $500 and include a copy of The Taste of Country Cooking: 50th Anniversary Edition, in your hands on the very day it publishes.

Tickets are available at bembrooklyn.com/tocc50

04/16/2026

The Edna Lewis Foundation (ELF) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the opening of applications for its 2026–27 Scholarship Program. Chaired by award-winning chef, Mashama Bailey, the Foundation honors the legacy of culinary pioneer Edna Lewis by supporting individuals committed to advancing and amplifying the impact of Black foodways in American cuisine through $5,000 scholarships in culinary arts, agriculture & farming, and food studies/food writing. Applications will be accepted through June 13, 2026.

For more information about the scholarship, key dates, and application process, please visit the website at theednalewisfoundation.org.

03/23/2026

In honor of Women’s History month, I am pleased to present Mrs. Edna Lewis.

Biography of Edna Lewis

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna_Lewis

Quotes by Edna Lewis

https://www.azquotes.com/author/24481-Edna_Lewis

03/23/2026

03/23/2026

For Women’s History Month, Chef Headen proudly pays tribute to the remarkable trailblazing women who opened doors and broke barriers in the food industry. This month, we honor three extraordinary chefs whose legacies continue to inspire kitchens around the world.
We celebrate Edna Lewis, who placed a spotlight on seasonal, simple, and elegant Southern cuisine rooted in fresh ingredients and rich tradition. Her work reminded us that food tells the story of community, land, and heritage. We recognize Alice Waters, the pioneer of the farm-to-table movement, who championed seasonal, local sourcing and forever changed the way America thinks about food and sustainability. And of course, we pay special tribute to one of Chef Headen’s favorites, Leah Chase the Queen of Creole Cuisine who preserved and elevated Creole cooking while breaking racial barriers in fine dining and paving the way for generations of chefs to follow.

 

03/23/2026

Known as the “Grande Dame and Grand Doyenne of Southern Cooking,” Edna Lewis revolutionized how Americans and the world felt about Southern cooking. By combining her knowledge and adoration for gardening, foraging, cooking, and Black history, Lewis created a lasting legacy, transforming the culinary world.

Born in 1916, in Freetown Virginia, a community co-founded by her grandfather and other emancipated community members, Lewis grew up in an environment rich in the flavors and traditions of the South. Her experiences in the field, woodlands, and kitchen laid the foundation for her profound understanding of cooking seasonal and locally sourced Southern dishes. Lewis used her culinary talent to highlight the cultural significance and history embedded in Southern cooking. She authored 4 cookbooks over the course of her life: The Edna Lewis Cookbook, The Taste of Country Cooking, In Pursuit of Flavor, and The Gift of Southern Cooking.

Through her dedication and passion, Edna Lewis left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of chefs, farmers, and food enthusiasts to appreciate and preserve the rich heritage of Southern cooking.

Join us as we celebrate the Sisters of the Soil who inspire us during Women's History and National Agriculture Month! Visit www.blacksoilky.com to learn more about our work.