Virginia Willis's legion of fans love her knack for giving classic French dishes a down-home Southern feel and reimagining homey Southern favorites <i>en Française</i>. In <i>Basic to Brilliant, Y'all</i> Virginia builds on her signature style, offering 150 soul-satisfying recipes and accompanying each with a new preparation technique, fresh presentation style, or creative recipe variation that transforms an already wonderful dish into an all-out show stopper. <br>  <br> In Virginia's hands, a cozy <b>Kale Omelet</b> becomes sophisticated brunch fare when it's baked in a sourdough boule; rich <b>Gruyere Flans</b> elevate a rustic red wine-infused <b>Roasted Tomato Soup</b>; and <b>Spiced Skirt Steak with Shallot Marmalade</b> is enhanced with just a few simple changes into a gorgeous roulade. <b>Peach Dijon-Crusted Pork Tenderloin</b> goes from elegant continental entrée to the pride of Dixie when it's cradled between <b>Chive Cornmeal Griddle Cakes</b>, and a country dessert like <b>Sweet Biscuits with Stewed Blackberries</b> is kicked up a notch when served topped with <b>Blackberry Fool</b>. <br>  <br> Throughout <i>Basic to Brilliant, Y'all</i>, Virginia paints a vivid portrait of growing up in Louisiana and Georgia, spinning tales of close family and friends—and unforgettable food—interwoven with vignettes from her years living in and visiting France, drawing you in with vibrant accounts of cooking and eating at La Varenne in Burgundy. <br>  <br> Whether you choose the Basic or the Brilliant approach, this bounty of Southern flavors dressed up with time-honored French techniques delivers meals that will keep you and your kin coming back for more.