EMMY AWARD-WINNING PBS DOCUMENTARY ON MARCH 26

Watch a captivating film on this legendary Virginia chef, then join an engaging discussion delving into
race, culture and food in Virginia and across the South

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., March 20, 2026 – Jamestown Settlement will present “Finding Edna Lewis,” an Emmy award-winning PBS documentary, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, followed by a discussion with producer Deb Freeman about the famed chef’s legacy that delves into race, culture and food in Virginia and across the South.

From Freetown, Virginia, to New York City, Edna Lewis (1916-2006) carved a remarkable path as a pioneering African American chef, author and champion of Southern cuisine with influential cookbooks such as “The Taste of Country Cooking” (1976). Despite a life that included fame and acclaim, Lewis is not a household name.

In the documentary, writer and culinary historian Deb Freeman travels to the places where Lewis made her mark introducing many Americans to seasonal, Southern cooking and the type of cooking in the Black community of rural Virginia that raised her. Following the film, Freeman will host a discussion delving into the intersections of race, culture, and food – especially in Virginia and across the South.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for college students with a valid ID. Tickets can be purchased online at jyfmuseums.org/finding-edna.

About Jamestown Settlement

A museum of 17th-century history and culture, Jamestown Settlement invites visitors to discover the convergence of cultures through immersive exhibits and living history. Special events and exhibitions expand on the stories of early America, from the seeds of democracy rooted at Jamestown in 1619 through the first century of the colony and their relevance today.

Jamestown Settlement is administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and a commemorative partner of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission.

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Jamestown Settlement is located on State Route 31 just southwest of Williamsburg. For more information, call (757) 253-4838 or visit jyfmuseums.org.

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Media Contact: Tracy Perkins, tracy.perkins@jyf.virginia.gov or (757) 253-4114