Patrick O'Connell (chef)
Encyclopedia
Patrick O’Connell is the chef
and proprietor of The Inn at Little Washington
, a country inn
and restaurant
in the town of Washington
in Virginia's Rappahannock County. O’Connell was not classically trained as a chef. His training began at fifteen when he worked after school at a neighborhood restaurant in his native Washington D.C. Along with his now former partner, Reinhardt Lynch, he began a catering
business in 1972 in Virginia's
Blue Ridge Mountains
. In 1978, O'Connell and Lynch opened the Inn at Little Washington in an abandoned gas station
. Opening first for friends and acquaintances on January 28, 1978, then officially to the public on February 1, 1978, the Inn at Little Washington was met with immediate success and notoriety despite antagonism from many locals. Three weeks after opening, a food critic for the Washington Star, a Washington D.C. newspaper, John Rosson, visited the Inn for dinner after the insistence of one of his loyal readers. Familiar with Rappahannock County, Rosson accepted the challenge to visit the new restaurant in the sleepy town of Washington, VA, located 67 miles west of the younger but more recognizable Washington D.C. Upon visiting for the first time, he was amazed by what he experienced. To be certain that it was more than just a "fluke" or a "series of fortunate events," Rosson would return the next week. Upon doing so, equally astonished by the depth and breadth of his experience, he thought it best to introduce himself, despite regarding his anonymity as a food writer as a well-guarded secret. The critic had met his match at least in terms of his ability of uncovering any weak underside of a fledgling new entity, especially one centered in the midst of a sparsely populated village of less than 300 residents. By introducing himself to the new chef and proprietor, he gave a not-so-subtle warning that was more prophetic than conciliatory: "I am going to write a story about you that is going to change your life. You are going to need to hire someone full time just to answer your phone!"
In April, 1978, John Rosson's article was printed, proclaiming Patrick O'Connell's Inn at Little Washington as "the best restaurant within 150 miles of Washington D.C."
O'Connell was one of the first American chefs courted by the France-based Relais & Chateaux. He is recognized as one of their "Grands Chefs" (formerly the designation was "Relais Gourmands" referring to establishments of two MIchelin Star quality or better, among the very best in their country). He has been called "The Pope of American Cuisine," and anyone who has been invited to dine in the kitchen is welcomed with the pageantry (and incense) of a religious ceremony.
In April, 2008, the Inn at Little Washington celebrated her 30th anniversary at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. where they premiered an original film highlighting the unique and remarkable history of America's culinary rebirth via "culinary pioneers." Thirty notable chefs, cookbook authors, critics and television personalities, including O'Connell, were recognized for leading America into the spotlight as a gastronomical super power mirrored by the amazing feats of Patrick O'Connell and his Inn at Little Washington. O'Connell has instituted a program of honoring culinary pioneers in naming, and decorating, suites in his Inn after them. The first such honoree was Craig Claiborne.
O'Connell holds an undergraduate degree
in drama
from the Catholic University of America
. He has won numerous awards including Outstanding Chef in America in 2001 and Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region in 1993, both awarded by the James Beard Foundation
. He was also one of the original inductees into "Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America." The Inn has won the Mobil Travel Guide’s Five-Star Awards for its restaurant and accommodations for 14 years and has been repeatedly recognized as one of the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. by GAYOT.com.
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
and proprietor of The Inn at Little Washington
The Inn at Little Washington
The Inn at Little Washington is a luxury country inn and restaurant located in Washington, Virginia. Patrick O'Connell and Reinhardt Lynch founded the Inn in a former garage in 1978...
, a country inn
INN
InterNetNews is a Usenet news server package, originally released by Rich Salz in 1991, and presented at the Summer 1992 USENIX conference in San Antonio, Texas...
and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
in the town of Washington
Washington, Virginia
Washington is a town in Rappahannock County, Virginia. It is noted for being the oldest of the 28 towns and villages by the name of Washington in the United States of America. The site of this town was surveyed by George Washington himself in July of 1749. Its population was just 183 people at the...
in Virginia's Rappahannock County. O’Connell was not classically trained as a chef. His training began at fifteen when he worked after school at a neighborhood restaurant in his native Washington D.C. Along with his now former partner, Reinhardt Lynch, he began a catering
Catering
Catering is the business of providing foodservice at a remote site or a site such as a hotel, public house , or other location.-Mobile catering:A mobile caterer serves food directly from a vehicle or cart that is designed for the purpose...
business in 1972 in Virginia's
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. In 1978, O'Connell and Lynch opened the Inn at Little Washington in an abandoned gas station
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
. Opening first for friends and acquaintances on January 28, 1978, then officially to the public on February 1, 1978, the Inn at Little Washington was met with immediate success and notoriety despite antagonism from many locals. Three weeks after opening, a food critic for the Washington Star, a Washington D.C. newspaper, John Rosson, visited the Inn for dinner after the insistence of one of his loyal readers. Familiar with Rappahannock County, Rosson accepted the challenge to visit the new restaurant in the sleepy town of Washington, VA, located 67 miles west of the younger but more recognizable Washington D.C. Upon visiting for the first time, he was amazed by what he experienced. To be certain that it was more than just a "fluke" or a "series of fortunate events," Rosson would return the next week. Upon doing so, equally astonished by the depth and breadth of his experience, he thought it best to introduce himself, despite regarding his anonymity as a food writer as a well-guarded secret. The critic had met his match at least in terms of his ability of uncovering any weak underside of a fledgling new entity, especially one centered in the midst of a sparsely populated village of less than 300 residents. By introducing himself to the new chef and proprietor, he gave a not-so-subtle warning that was more prophetic than conciliatory: "I am going to write a story about you that is going to change your life. You are going to need to hire someone full time just to answer your phone!"
In April, 1978, John Rosson's article was printed, proclaiming Patrick O'Connell's Inn at Little Washington as "the best restaurant within 150 miles of Washington D.C."
O'Connell was one of the first American chefs courted by the France-based Relais & Chateaux. He is recognized as one of their "Grands Chefs" (formerly the designation was "Relais Gourmands" referring to establishments of two MIchelin Star quality or better, among the very best in their country). He has been called "The Pope of American Cuisine," and anyone who has been invited to dine in the kitchen is welcomed with the pageantry (and incense) of a religious ceremony.
In April, 2008, the Inn at Little Washington celebrated her 30th anniversary at the Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. where they premiered an original film highlighting the unique and remarkable history of America's culinary rebirth via "culinary pioneers." Thirty notable chefs, cookbook authors, critics and television personalities, including O'Connell, were recognized for leading America into the spotlight as a gastronomical super power mirrored by the amazing feats of Patrick O'Connell and his Inn at Little Washington. O'Connell has instituted a program of honoring culinary pioneers in naming, and decorating, suites in his Inn after them. The first such honoree was Craig Claiborne.
O'Connell holds an undergraduate degree
Undergraduate degree
An undergraduate degree is a colloquial term for an academic degree taken by a person who has completed undergraduate courses. It is usually offered at an institution of higher education, such as a university...
in drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
from the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
. He has won numerous awards including Outstanding Chef in America in 2001 and Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic region in 1993, both awarded by the James Beard Foundation
James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation is a New York-based national professional non-profit organization named in honor of James Beard that serves to promote the culinary arts by honoring chefs, wine professionals, journalists, and cookbook authors at annual award ceremonies and providing scholarships and...
. He was also one of the original inductees into "Who's Who of Food and Beverage in America." The Inn has won the Mobil Travel Guide’s Five-Star Awards for its restaurant and accommodations for 14 years and has been repeatedly recognized as one of the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. by GAYOT.com.