Whisk Carolina, a gourmet kitchenwares store located in Cary will host cookbook author Virginia Willis on June 12 from 6:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. The meet-and-greet with Willis is in support of her cookbook, “Lighten Up, Y’all,” which won a James Beard Foundation Award of Excellence in the ‘Focus on Healthy’ category.

During the event, customers can also try a variety of wines and appetizers that were mentioned in her cookbook.

Willis is a Georgia-born French-trained chef and has published several cookbooks, is a columnist for Southern Living magazine and has made several television appearances. Willis is also the author of a collection of recipes and essays about the South titled “Secrets of the Southern Table: A Food Lover’s Tour of the Global South,” scheduled to premiere this month.