NEW YORK (AP) — Celebrated chef Patrick O’Connell plans to release a candid autobiography this September detailing his journey from transforming an abandoned garage into a world-renowned culinary hotspot.
The upcoming memoir, titled “Main, Middle & Gay,” chronicles O’Connell’s experiences as creator of The Inn at Little Washington, a Michelin-starred establishment. The book’s name pays homage to the intersection of streets in Washington, Virginia, where his acclaimed restaurant and inn operates.
“This book was eight decades in the making. (I had to wait till most of the characters were dead). Unleashing my demons was freeing,” the 80-year-old O’Connell stated in an announcement made Tuesday by Celadon Books, his publisher planning a September 15 release date.
“Finally, the jagged pieces of the jigsaw puzzle of my life have been assembled into a haunting portrayal worthy of a southern, gothic novel — proving that fiction can rarely compete with reality,” he added.
The D.C.-born chef launched his restaurant venture in 1978 and has since earned prestigious recognition, including the James Beard Foundation’s lifetime achievement honor and a National Humanities Medal for elevating “the culinary arts to new heights of excellence by embracing regional flavors and championing local farmers.”
