Internationally celebrated Inn at Little Washington chef Patrick O’Connell earned the highest honor from the American Academy of Chefs (AAC), the honor society of the American Culinary Federation (ACF). O’Connell was inducted into the AAC Culinary Hall of Fame as a “Celebrated Chef.”

This category and top honor is reserved for industry trendsetters who have distinguished themselves in the culinary world. It’s almost a funny phrase to attach to O’Connell’s name as we have been celebrating his accomplishments for over 25 years as the Inn at Little Washington has been the ultimate food destination on the East Coast, and fortunately for us, in our bounteous Piedmont region.

The top honor is reserved for industry icons such as O’Connell, an individual who has trained multiple future chefs and recognizes the importance of the entire dining experience. For a chef applying for a position at another restaurant, one of his greatest resume strengths is being able to say he worked at The Inn. Future employers can bustle with excitement knowing that an applicant learned amazing skills from a a master such as O’Connell.

Congratulations, Chef.