Happy Birthday Julia Child
- Thread starter davey7
- Start date
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
maytagbear
Well-known member
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!
maytagbear
Well-known member
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
jeff_adelphi
Well-known member
Julia Sings
Check out this PBS video of Julia
http://www.latimes.com/features/foo...ing-julia-child-remix-20120814,0,353902.story
Check out this PBS video of Julia
http://www.latimes.com/features/foo...ing-julia-child-remix-20120814,0,353902.story
hooverwheelaway
Well-known member
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<h1><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></h1>
philr
Well-known member
She had a nice washer/dryer set on her TV program!
philr
Well-known member
And from the link that Jeff posted, a 1964 Frigidaire Imperial just like mine (and similar to Fred's refrigerator too)!
Such fond memories
<span style="font-size: medium;">I remember watching her as a child of 6 or so on WNET 13, our local PBS channel. I can recall being shocked in seeing here toss trash over her shoulder and onto the floor. She taught me how to make omelets! I never forgot to add a little water to make them extra fluffy.
Thank you Julia! </span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">I remember watching her as a child of 6 or so on WNET 13, our local PBS channel. I can recall being shocked in seeing here toss trash over her shoulder and onto the floor. She taught me how to make omelets! I never forgot to add a little water to make them extra fluffy.
firedome
Well-known member
not sure but
I believe those wall ovens were GEs. Supposedly the Smithsonian has recreated one of her kitchens, would love to know what all the ovens/cooktops that she used over time were, certainly they must have changed over time. I do recall her saying that one doesn't need fancy professional appliances to cook well, as all the entitled seem to feel they "must have" these days.
I believe those wall ovens were GEs. Supposedly the Smithsonian has recreated one of her kitchens, would love to know what all the ovens/cooktops that she used over time were, certainly they must have changed over time. I do recall her saying that one doesn't need fancy professional appliances to cook well, as all the entitled seem to feel they "must have" these days.
Yes, the double wall oven is a GE, and must be "Shaded Coppertone". I see that the lower oven has no window.
As for large professional appliances, the only one I might like is a steam table with two wells.
As for large professional appliances, the only one I might like is a steam table with two wells.
maytagbear
Well-known member
Not a re-creation,
as much as the real thing! When Julia left Cambridge Massachusetts for good and for Montecito, California, the entire kitchen was photographed, diagrammed, and sent to the Smithsonian.
To me, "re-creation" implies some fakery.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
as much as the real thing! When Julia left Cambridge Massachusetts for good and for Montecito, California, the entire kitchen was photographed, diagrammed, and sent to the Smithsonian.
To me, "re-creation" implies some fakery.
Lawrence/Maytagbear
lordkenmore
Well-known member
"I do recall her saying that one doesn't need fancy professional appliances to cook well, as all the entitled seem to feel they 'must have' these days."
The other irony that gets me about today's world of kitchens with fancy appliances: how many people have expensive stuff (appliances, cookware, etc) that basically never gets used for anything more demanding than a frozen pizza.
Meanwhile, Julia Child was doing lots of cooking, and demonstrating using GE wall ovens. Or, closer to home, one of my grandmothers cooked a fair amount, and went past "meat and potatoes." I recall her cookware was older copper bottom Revere.
The other irony that gets me about today's world of kitchens with fancy appliances: how many people have expensive stuff (appliances, cookware, etc) that basically never gets used for anything more demanding than a frozen pizza.
Meanwhile, Julia Child was doing lots of cooking, and demonstrating using GE wall ovens. Or, closer to home, one of my grandmothers cooked a fair amount, and went past "meat and potatoes." I recall her cookware was older copper bottom Revere.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
The Los Angeles PBS station was running early B&W Julia this past weekend and was it ever nice! What a contrast to "some" of the many popular cooking shows on today's cable. Although there are many entertaining and talented chefs, it seems that none of them can approach Miss Child's level of professionalism. People like Emeril Lagasse and Bobby Flay have a personal army that scour gourmet markets for the finest ingredients that money can buy and then another army prepares the food for the television camera so that it looks picture-perfect. And I wonder what Julia would say about all those silly chef competition shows where the loser often behaves like they were just told they have a terminal disease.
When I worked for Macy's California they had Julia Child as a guest for "Cookware Week" in San Francisco. It was a mob scene. Fortunately she was tall so some people were able to see the top of her head but that was about it.
When I worked for Macy's California they had Julia Child as a guest for "Cookware Week" in San Francisco. It was a mob scene. Fortunately she was tall so some people were able to see the top of her head but that was about it.
As far as I know...
...she never emdorsed a product or had her name stamped on things (other than her books and television shows). I did read an interview, somewhere, much, much later, where she did speak glowingly of her KitchenAid K5.
After studying her "The French Chef" DVDs, I have been able to pick up a few pieces of Descoware at thrift shops.
Her Cambridge kitchen, at the Smithsonian, can be seen at the following link. There is a ton of fun things found at that site.
Joe
http://americanhistory.si.edu/juliachild/
...she never emdorsed a product or had her name stamped on things (other than her books and television shows). I did read an interview, somewhere, much, much later, where she did speak glowingly of her KitchenAid K5.
After studying her "The French Chef" DVDs, I have been able to pick up a few pieces of Descoware at thrift shops.
Her Cambridge kitchen, at the Smithsonian, can be seen at the following link. There is a ton of fun things found at that site.
Joe
http://americanhistory.si.edu/juliachild/
maytagbear
Well-known member
Miss?
Miss Julia McWilliams.
Mrs. (Paul Cushing) Julia Child.
L/Mb
Miss Julia McWilliams.
Mrs. (Paul Cushing) Julia Child.
L/Mb
From the Smithsonian link it appears she did have a large stainless steel oven, maybe a professional model? I don't know much about them.
firedome
Well-known member
I expect that the donated kitchen
being the last iteration had upgraded appliances, but I recall her mentioning on one of the earlier B&W shows that she used more or less ordinary domestic appliances in her home... I can't believe she liked instant coffee!! It says on the Smithsonian site that she had it in the cupboard with spices etc! She was such a card and down to earth, on reaching her 90th Birthday I recall one interviewer asking her what her secret for longevity was, to which she replied..."lots of Gin! and it doesn't matter what kind!". She also confessed a weakness for McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers... no food snob, she!
being the last iteration had upgraded appliances, but I recall her mentioning on one of the earlier B&W shows that she used more or less ordinary domestic appliances in her home... I can't believe she liked instant coffee!! It says on the Smithsonian site that she had it in the cupboard with spices etc! She was such a card and down to earth, on reaching her 90th Birthday I recall one interviewer asking her what her secret for longevity was, to which she replied..."lots of Gin! and it doesn't matter what kind!". She also confessed a weakness for McDonald's Double Cheeseburgers... no food snob, she!
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