About Us

Who is Talk of the Town?

About US

Our Story

Talk of the Town Languages & Culture Services is run by husband-and-wife team Kimber Hawkey and Charles Gendrot. We offer the best choice in personalized language lessons, cooking & wine tasting classes, wine & food pairing, tours (local history, wineries, restaurants), school field trips, foreign travel trip planning and pre-trip preparation as well as services in writing/editing and translating/interpreting.

Kimber Hawkey

Highly committed to students and their learning, effective educator with proven methods, fun and lively in class with unique qualifications including over 20 years of international teaching experience in the USA, France, Spain, and Kenya. Extensive world travel throughout Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Holds multiple degrees –  Masters in French Literature,  Masters in Teaching ESL,  Certificates in Teaching Languages,  Diploma in Spanish Language/Literature/ History, as well as as Translating/ Interpreting Certificate.  Her talent in the kitchen comes from years spent in home-kitchens around the world with family and friends.

Charles Gendrot

Charles Gendrot, himself a world traveler,  is a passionate and talented French winemaker. From the Bordeaux wine region, he has crafted wines for over a 100 chateaux in the world. He came to the USA to work for the premium wineries of Kendall Jackson Family Farms in Sonoma CA. He then came to VA where he made the rose’ sparkling served to the Queen at the White House as well as the wine served at the Chelsea Clinton wedding.

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