Chef Ouita Michel is one of my absolute favorite Kentuckians. She's an amazing chef, with six James Beard Award nominations to prove it. She’s one of the kindest, loveliest people I have ever had the pleasure to know. And, she uses her status as one of Kentucky’s most influential chefs to bring so much good to our Commonwealth. She helped bring Bravo’s Top Chef to Kentucky, and, in a cause close to my heart, she sits on the board of the Hindman Settlement School. She even cooked authentic chicken and dumplings at the James Beard House! As far as I’m concerned, Ouita is the Queen of Kentucky cuisine. She might even be the Queen of Kentucky.

I was so excited when Ouita’s team reached out to me to let me know that she’s launching a new lifestyle brand, aptly named Holly Hill & Co. To celebrate, one HerKentucky reader has a chance to win a copy of Ouita’s cookbook, Just a Few Miles South. I absolutely love this cookbook, y’all. I think every Kentuckian who loves to cook should own a copy. The recipes are authentically Southern — the actual soup beans and cheesy grits that we all grew up eating. It’s a beautiful celebration of Kentucky! Just head over to HerKentucky’s instagram to enter to win.