Anne Willan is the founder of the prestigious Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne, which operated in Burgundy France from 1991 until 2007. Inducted into the James Beard Foundation's "Who's Who in Food and Beverage" in America in 1986, Willan is a recognized authority on French cooking, with more than 35 years of experience as a cooking teacher, cookbook author and food columnist. Willan's THE COUNTRY COOKING OF FRANCE received two 2008 James Beard Foundation book awards for best international cookbook and best cookbook photography. Bon App�tit magazine named Willan its cooking teacher of the year in 2000. She was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the International Association of Culinary Professionals in 1999 for her contributions to the world of food writing, culinary education and to the IACP itself. She has written a syndicated column on food for the Tribune Media Services since 1994. Willan received her master's degree from Cambridge University, then studied and taught cooking in London and Paris before moving to the United States, where she became an associate editor of Gourmet magazine and food editor of the Washington Star. 

January 26th, 1938 in Newcastle upon Tyne (Age 86)