The Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, founded in 1932, is one of the largest maritime museums in the world. The museum recently hosted a food tasting and lecture to launch the cookbook "Dishing Up Virginia." Written by Patrick Evans-Hylton, with foreword by Marcel Desaulniers and photography by Edwin Remberg, the book has attracted attention across Virginia. Participating restaurants and caterers from Tidewater prepared dishes from "Dishing Up Virginia" and guests attending got to taste them at their leisure, listen to a lecture and had a chance to buy a signed copy.

Patrick has been living in Virginia for 23 years, moving here from Atlanta. But his family’s early roots stemmed from the Old Dominion. "My ancestors came through Virginia in 1680 but continued a little further south."

Penning cookbooks is not new to Patrick. He’s written five history books, two of which are on food history. He’s done a community cookbook and one on popcorn.

Three years ago ...