A Legacy of Women in Leadership

New Chef de Cuisine Hannah Arvin Joins General Manager Jackie Anthony to Continue a Rich Tradition

Holly Hill Inn, the flagship restaurant of Chef Ouita Michel – Lexington’s celebrated restaurateur and local foods advocate – has entered a historic new era.  With the elevation of Hannah Arvin to Chef de Cuisine and Jackie Anthony to General Manager, the restaurant is now led by an all-female team.

Chef Hannah worked her way up through the ranks at Wines on Vine, then earned a coveted spot on Chef Ouita Michel’s team at the newly opened Honeywood Restaurant. While at Honeywood, Hannah progressed from garde manger to the fry station to sauté. In 2020, she moved from Honeywood over to Michel’s flagship restaurant, Holly Hill Inn, where she was promoted to sous chef.

She made the national news in 2020 when The New York Times ran a feature story on FoodChain and pandemic relief efforts.  The volunteer work provided by Chef Hannah and others made it possible for FoodChain to divert thousands of pounds of fresh food from the landfill to family dinner tables.

As Chef de Cuisine, Hannah transforms Kentucky’s rich agricultural heritage into delicious dishes by way of her seasonally inflected prix fixe menus.  Her culinary expertise is complemented by General Manager Jackie Anthony and a well-trained service team who guide their guests through Holly Hill Inn’s multi-course menu and award-winning wine list.  

Jackie’s warm welcome and signature smile immediately put patrons in the mood for an enjoyable and leisurely dining experience.  Jackie has deep roots in the Bluegrass  – the Anthonys were once the largest African-American family in Midway – and a background in hospitality and public service.  She’s been with Holly Hill Inn for over 15 years and recently returned to the restaurant full-time after a stint as Woodford County Deputy Clerk.

Together, Hannah and Jackie personify Holly Hill Inn’s long tradition of Bluegrass hospitality and deep agricultural heritage.  They recognize that Holly Hill Inn delivers a dining experience that captures the heart of central Kentucky, and they understand and foster the connections that form between farmer and diner, food and art.  

As Bluegrass spring warms into summer, Jackie and Hannah hope that visitors to Holly Hill Inn will enhance their dining enjoyment by visiting the restaurant’s expanded gardens. Diners are welcome to wander the well-tended plots planted with heirloom vegetables, edible flowers, herbs for the kitchen, bar and teapot; and native ornamentals. 

The gardens at Holly Hill Inn and the new leadership roles of Hannah and Jackie are a perfect metaphor for the growth of Chef Ouita Michel’s influence. Having been at the stove for over 35 years, she is now committed to launching a new generation of chefs and other culinary professionals to continue and share her legacy of love for Kentucky food and farmers. We welcome Chef de Cuisine Hannah Arvin and General Manager Jackie Anthony as the newest faces of that generation. 

Read more about Hannah and Jackie and the rest of the Holly Hill Inn family here.