Virginia judges in many of the world and the U.S.’ biggest dining, food, spirits, cocktails and bars competitions and awards, some confidential, some known. She is the Academy Chair over West North America for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants,  the West USA Academy Chair over the new North America 50 Best Restaurants, on the national beverage committee at the James Beard Foundation Awards, lead spirits judge at SF World Spirits, ADI International Craft Distilling, and many others, judging multiple years at awards like Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, Good Food Awards, IWSC in London, Nola Spirits Comp, Whiskies of the World, etc.) and has visited over 15,000 restaurants (and even more top bars) around the world.