From Freetown, Virginia, to New York City, Edna Lewis carved a remarkable path. She introduced many Americans to seasonal cooking, Southern cooking — the cooking of the Black community in rural Virginia that raised her. Yet despite a life that included fame and acclaim, she is not a household name.
Food storyteller Deb Freeman ↗ has made her mark through an award-winning podcast, Setting the Table, and in-print across an array of high-profile publications—Eater, Condé Nast Traveler, Food52, the list goes on. As executive producer and host, Deb travels to meet—and cook!—with those who keep Miss Lewis’ legacy alive.
The feature-length film is now available to stream via PBS Passport. Follow Deb for news about her ongoing nationwide tour. And teachers, check out these learning resources developed by New American History for your classroom.
“Freeman’s historical and culinary commentary is exacting, precise, and full of infectious joy.”
“The food imagery is shot with the same level of cinematographic intensity as the Chef’s Table series.”
Awards and honors:
2025 Capital Emmy Award
2025 Public Media Award, Cross-Platform Content
Press for Finding Edna Lewis:
TODAY Show: “How This NYC Restaurant Honors the Legacy of Chef Edna Lewis on Juneteenth”
KQED: “Influential Southern chef Edna Lewis finally gets the documentary she deserves”
The Sporkful: “Southern Cooking Icon Edna Lewis Gets Her Due”
Eater: “Finding Edna Lewis: for a comforting watch sure to feed the mind and the soul”
Radio Cherry Bombe: “Deb Freeman On Her New Documentary Finding Edna Lewis”
Richmond Times-Dispatch: “New Richmond-made documentary honors legacy of Virginia chef Edna Lewis”
Southern Living: “An Upcoming Documentary Celebrates The Legacy Of Edna Lewis”
Style Weekly: “In Pursuit of Edna”
East Bay Express: “Finding Edna Lewis pays homage to Southern chef”
Eater Chicago: “An Emmy-Nominated Doc About Edna Lewis Gets a One-Night-Only Chicago Release”