Sylvia Main

Fairholme Manor’s owner, Sylvia Main, is proud to spotlight her cousin, Nora Pouillon, the renowned organic chef and restaurateur based in Washington, DC. Well-decorated with many awards, accolades, and honours, Nora not only heads Restaurant Nora, but also has published two cookbooks on healthy eating, and advocates for the availability of healthier, organic foods.

Recently, Nora hosted Michelle Obama’s 46th birthday party in a private room in Restaurant Nora, and she has appeared as a judge on the television show America’s Top Chef, Washington, D.C..

Like Sylvia, Nora was born in Austria and had a love of fresh, natural ingredients instilled in her from an early age. Nora believes there is a strong correlation between what you eat and how you feel. As she puts it, “It’s very important to eat well to feel well.”

Nora has been a guiding force in the organic food movement, with Restaurant Nora being the first restaurant in the US to be certified organic in 1999. Far ahead of the curve, Restaurant Nora’s inception was back in 1979 as Nora has long valued the use of top quality, sustainable ingredients. She has been integral to establishing the standards for organic certification of restaurants, which guarantees that a minimum of 95% of the food served originates from certified organic sources.

Nora articulates her commitment to environmentally conscious cuisine as follows: “Organic is not about diet but about agriculture. My customers come for the good food. They don’t have to understand it, but for me it is the only food that is good to eat” (quoted in Art Culinaire). With the attitude of “you are what you eat,” Nora’s sentiments are more than just high standards for the food she serves; for her, organic cuisine is a way of life.

Nora’s most recent cookbook, titled Cooking with Nora, features seasonal menus using simple, organic ingredients and was a finalist for the Julia Child cookbook award. The book can be purchased through Amazon, and Syliva also carries copies at Fairholme Manor along with her own cookbook, Fabulous Fairholme: Breakfasts & Brunches. Likewise, Nora carries Sylvia’s cookbook in her restaurant.