Happy Birthday Julia Child
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She would have been 100.
franksdad
Well-known member
Saw that on the news during lunch a while ago! Each time I think of her I remember the Saturday Night Live skit in which Dan Akrod played Julia Child chopping a chicken liver and telling all the things you could put the chopped liver on. As he was chopping the liver he cut his hand. Blood was gushing everywhere and as he was dying he kept shouting "Save the liva!"
Between my mother and Julia...
...I learned to cook at an early age.
I remember watching "The French Chef" when I was a kid. My mother and I would watch the show (in black and white), my mother scribbling down the recipes as she watched. I learned about techniques and tools that at the time, were unheard of in this little burgh.
We were a bacon and fried eggs (scrambled, for variety) on the weekends family. I started making omelettes then - swanky, huh?
I always liked Julia's earthiness - the utensil crock crashed over, the apple tart unmolded "badly," and none of the cookware matched - but she stressed that these things will happen - but anyone could do it.
I have three sets of "The French Chef" DVDs, and watch them every so often - never tire of them.
In her memory, just last week, I finished reading "As Always, Julia," one of five books about Julia in my collection (not counting her cookbooks).
Joe
...I learned to cook at an early age.
I remember watching "The French Chef" when I was a kid. My mother and I would watch the show (in black and white), my mother scribbling down the recipes as she watched. I learned about techniques and tools that at the time, were unheard of in this little burgh.
We were a bacon and fried eggs (scrambled, for variety) on the weekends family. I started making omelettes then - swanky, huh?
I always liked Julia's earthiness - the utensil crock crashed over, the apple tart unmolded "badly," and none of the cookware matched - but she stressed that these things will happen - but anyone could do it.
I have three sets of "The French Chef" DVDs, and watch them every so often - never tire of them.
In her memory, just last week, I finished reading "As Always, Julia," one of five books about Julia in my collection (not counting her cookbooks).
Joe
Julia saw
a tape of the Dan Ackroyd bit and LOVED IT.
Julia's memoir, "My Life in France" is a must-read for anyone who loves her. Noel Riley Fitch wrote a very good biography of Julia, as well.
However, if Julia were alive today, and at the height of her powers, only PBS would (perhaps) be her television venue, certainly NOT TVFN, for her programs, except for the truly poor "Dinner at Julia's," would be considered too technical and too boring, in this age of "Unwrapped," and "Cupcake Wars." A pity, that.
I preferred the book of Julie and Julia, even though I adored x 9000 Meryl Streep's Julia, because in the book, it's easier to skip over Powell's whining.
Lawrence/Maytagbear[this post was last edited: 8/15/2012-14:33]
a tape of the Dan Ackroyd bit and LOVED IT.
Julia's memoir, "My Life in France" is a must-read for anyone who loves her. Noel Riley Fitch wrote a very good biography of Julia, as well.
However, if Julia were alive today, and at the height of her powers, only PBS would (perhaps) be her television venue, certainly NOT TVFN, for her programs, except for the truly poor "Dinner at Julia's," would be considered too technical and too boring, in this age of "Unwrapped," and "Cupcake Wars." A pity, that.
I preferred the book of Julie and Julia, even though I adored x 9000 Meryl Streep's Julia, because in the book, it's easier to skip over Powell's whining.
Lawrence/Maytagbear[this post was last edited: 8/15/2012-14:33]
lordkenmore
Well-known member
Add me to the list of Julia Child admirers. I found MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING to be quite helpful early in my cooking life. A couple of years ago, I watched one DVD set of her first TV show. I was inspired by a discussion here (on, I think, best cooking shows). I planned to watch at most a few to get a sense of her show...but ended watching the whole set. It's not just French cooking; there is a lot of useful basic cooking information in there.
lordkenmore
Well-known member
"However, if Julia were alive today, and at the height of her powers, only PBS would (perhaps) be her television venue, certainly NOT TVFN, for her programs, except for the truly poor 'Dinner at Julia's,' would be considered too technical and too boring, in this age of 'Unwrapped,' and 'Cupcake Wars.'"
I haven't watched much TV recently, and I've never had cable...but I'm afraid this is true. Julia Child would be a hard sell in today's market.
It's sort of funny. I wasn't around in the sixties, but I'm sure the culinary landscape was considerably more limited. A lot of people were around who were locked into American Meat and Potatoes. (I can name names in my family....) Today we have an incredible selection of world cuisines available. (I've seen a stand selling "Peru" cuisine at a farmer's market!) People are more adventurous. But Julia Child's way wouldn't work today, but she was accepted in the 60s by many, many viewers. (One thing that probably helped: she had no snobbery about French cuisine.)
I haven't watched much TV recently, and I've never had cable...but I'm afraid this is true. Julia Child would be a hard sell in today's market.
It's sort of funny. I wasn't around in the sixties, but I'm sure the culinary landscape was considerably more limited. A lot of people were around who were locked into American Meat and Potatoes. (I can name names in my family....) Today we have an incredible selection of world cuisines available. (I've seen a stand selling "Peru" cuisine at a farmer's market!) People are more adventurous. But Julia Child's way wouldn't work today, but she was accepted in the 60s by many, many viewers. (One thing that probably helped: she had no snobbery about French cuisine.)
Today comes in part from Julia.
Julia was on TV when there weren't TV chefs. SO all these folks owe her a debt of gratitude.
Since only about 5% of the nation cooks, I think they want ENTERTAINMENT not EDUCATION. So, yes, they're happy to (say) see Martha Stewart doing something that takes 100 ingredients, and 6 days to do, because they'll never, ever do it.
But try and tell them they can make a 3 course meal in 30 minutes (and you can) and folks will run screaming from the room.
RIP Julia, you are missed!
(And I did read her book about her life in France and it was fascinating. I'd LOVE to know what she did for the OSS!)
Julia was on TV when there weren't TV chefs. SO all these folks owe her a debt of gratitude.
Since only about 5% of the nation cooks, I think they want ENTERTAINMENT not EDUCATION. So, yes, they're happy to (say) see Martha Stewart doing something that takes 100 ingredients, and 6 days to do, because they'll never, ever do it.
But try and tell them they can make a 3 course meal in 30 minutes (and you can) and folks will run screaming from the room.
RIP Julia, you are missed!
(And I did read her book about her life in France and it was fascinating. I'd LOVE to know what she did for the OSS!)
I grew up with JC on tv both b/w and then color. I thought she was the greatest. She is still on my "If you could have dinner with..." list.
Was looking at her kitchen shots in France and the US - very simple but lived in kitchens (with lots of pots and pans).
Just got the Mastery of French Cooking and really need to dig into it... You need fat to digest the vitamins in the food.
Just got the Mastery of French Cooking and really need to dig into it... You need fat to digest the vitamins in the food.
mickeyd
Well-known member
Right now on the PBS Newshour
Julia will be featured in the last segment, around 7:10, Eastern.
I adored her. Even in her last series in that massive stainless steel kitchen where her work was almost surgical in its precision, I sat transfixed.
Toward the end, a guy from the NY Times wrote a a piece in the Sunday Magazine about an afternoon visit to her where she made "Lobster Rolls" for lunch. I just had to go get the stuff and make them, (he had included the recipe in the article.) She was so lovable in that piece. Wish I could read it again.
JULIA LOVERS, tune in to PBS toute de suite--right away.
Julia will be featured in the last segment, around 7:10, Eastern.
I adored her. Even in her last series in that massive stainless steel kitchen where her work was almost surgical in its precision, I sat transfixed.
Toward the end, a guy from the NY Times wrote a a piece in the Sunday Magazine about an afternoon visit to her where she made "Lobster Rolls" for lunch. I just had to go get the stuff and make them, (he had included the recipe in the article.) She was so lovable in that piece. Wish I could read it again.
JULIA LOVERS, tune in to PBS toute de suite--right away.
mickeyd
Well-known member
7:06, W-A-I-T-I-N-G............
Drooling, thinking about the Lobster Rolls as I wait for Julia: Important to use a good roll, she said, challah or eggy rich things, toasted and WELL BUTTERED, lol, a simple filling, tender broiled lobster tail meat, mayonnaise, a finely chopped scallion or challot, and a goodly generous squirts of fresh lemon juice. Think I got it all from memory, mmm mmm mmmm. Maybe tonight to commemorate.
Drooling, thinking about the Lobster Rolls as I wait for Julia: Important to use a good roll, she said, challah or eggy rich things, toasted and WELL BUTTERED, lol, a simple filling, tender broiled lobster tail meat, mayonnaise, a finely chopped scallion or challot, and a goodly generous squirts of fresh lemon juice. Think I got it all from memory, mmm mmm mmmm. Maybe tonight to commemorate.
My brother's mom lives in Berkeley and had a kid who interned at Chez Panisse. Alice Waters told them that she, Julia, served goldfish as hors d'oeuvre before dinner with cocktails! And no, she was no Auntie Mame, the lil gold crackers!
There were other cooks on television before Julia......
mostly, but not exclusively local television women like Martha Dixon, Eliza Leslie, and Betty Feezor.
Also, James A. Beard had a not very successful early period show, called "I Love To Eat," sponsored by Borden's. He was a better teacher in person.
Another pre-Julia television cook was Dione (Dee-oh-nee) Lucas, a British born graduate of Cordon Bleu. If she is remembered today at all, she is remembered for her restaurant in Greenwich Village, "The Egg Basket," and for her chocolate cake roll. In one of her books, Maida Heatter (I think it was Maida Heatter's American Desserts) talked fondly about the classes she took from Ms. Lucas. Lucas' show was called "To The Queen's Taste."
I no longer have cable, and I don't watch much tv at all any more, but if I did, I would watch "America's Test Kitchen," and mute Christopher Kimball's segments.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
mostly, but not exclusively local television women like Martha Dixon, Eliza Leslie, and Betty Feezor.
Also, James A. Beard had a not very successful early period show, called "I Love To Eat," sponsored by Borden's. He was a better teacher in person.
Another pre-Julia television cook was Dione (Dee-oh-nee) Lucas, a British born graduate of Cordon Bleu. If she is remembered today at all, she is remembered for her restaurant in Greenwich Village, "The Egg Basket," and for her chocolate cake roll. In one of her books, Maida Heatter (I think it was Maida Heatter's American Desserts) talked fondly about the classes she took from Ms. Lucas. Lucas' show was called "To The Queen's Taste."
I no longer have cable, and I don't watch much tv at all any more, but if I did, I would watch "America's Test Kitchen," and mute Christopher Kimball's segments.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
Julia Sings
Check out this PBS video of Julia
Check out this PBS video of Julia
hooverwheelaway
Well-known member
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philr
Well-known member
She had a nice washer/dryer set on her TV program!
