10 Reasons I Love Julia Child
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I’ve loved Julia Child for as long as I can remember. She’s always been an inspiration, and let’s be honest, a hero to me.
Today I’m very proud to be featured as the official Blogger of the Day on the new Julie & Julia movie website. I’m very much looking forward to seeing the film, which premieres August 7th. Not only for my love of Julia Child, but also because it looks like a fun movie. Plus, Meryl Streep is one of my all-time favorite actresses.
I am also a fan of Julie Powell’s wonderful book, Julie & Julia. Blogger Julie Powell ambitiously cooked and blogged her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 365 days, and lived to write a book about it. If you haven’t read it, pick up a copy. It’s so much fun living vicariously through Julie’s adventures in learning to cook like Julia — and make aspic.
I will definitely be hiring a babysitter so I can go see this movie as soon as it hits the theaters. Here’s the Julie & Julia trailer, so you can get a sneak peak:
To remember and honor the great chef, Julia Child, one of our national treasures, I’m posting 10 reasons I love her.
10 Reasons I Love Julia Child
1. I love Julia Child because she championed butter and cream. I saw her once on her TV show. She said (paraphrase), “If you’re afraid of using too much butter in this recipe, don’t worry — you can substitute cream.”
2. Nor was she a fan of low-fat diets. She was quoted as saying, “The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.”
3. She was a proponent of organ meats. I grew up watching that Saturday Night Live sketch in which Dan Ackroyd in drag played Julia Child saying, “Save the liver!” I remember my mother, laughing and quoting that sketch at holidays and dinner parties. Update: my sister sent me this video on Twitter:
4. Julia Child was a feminist. She may not have called herself a feminist but she was. She didn’t marry until she was 34 (an advanced age for a woman wedding in the 1960s), and went on to attend Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris, surrounded by male chefs.
5. She had great passion. Her passion drove her to work very hard. She said, “The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It’s doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile. I think of my strawberry souffle. I did that at least twenty-eight times before I finally conquered it.”
6. Another example of her drive to achieve when most people would have given up: the manuscript for her first book, Mastering The Art of French Cooking, was rejected by publisher Houghton Mifflin for being too much like an encyclopedia. When it was finally published by Alfred A. Knopf, the 734-page tome was a bestseller.
7. She didn’t let age stop her. Julia was 49 when she published her first cookbook. She was 51 when she did her first cooking show. Seeing how I’m almost 41, this gives me hope that maybe I still have a chance to make something of myself.
8. She loved oysters. Julia Child often recalled her first French meal in Rouen, consisting of oysters and sole meunière. She described the experience in The New York Times as “an opening up of the soul and spirit for me.” I tend to wax on about oysters on this blog — I guess this is why. Like Julia, I believe they truly are spiritually awakening.
9. She didn’t give a rat’s a** about cholesterol. When asked if she knew her cholesterol level, she said, “Medium.”
10. Above all, she had a fabulous sense of humor. When a sommelier asked her to name her favorite wine, she replied, “Gin.”
Photo credits: Wikipedia & Sony Pictures
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28/06/2009 at 7:50 pm Permalink
Wow, that is so extremely cool – congratulations!
Julia was among the first to illustrate the importance of fresh, whole foods, and did more to elevate American cuisine than almost anyone else. I can’t imagine where we’d be without her.
I’m sure she’d give a tip of the toque to cheeseslave if she were still with us!
Ren’s last blog post..Healing Tomato Curry
28/06/2009 at 7:59 pm Permalink
What a terrific tribute to a wonderful and inspirational woman.
My copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking is tattered, stained, and slightly-falling-apart. I’ve certainly never cooked from end-to-end, but I know it’s absolutely reliable – and some of my favourite comfort-food recipes come from there.
Julia Child was smart, sensible, and didn’t tolerate nonsense. And one helluva good cook.
Thanks for this – and congratulations on being a Julie & Julia blogger!
Grace’s last blog post..You heard it here first
28/06/2009 at 10:12 pm Permalink
Ann Marie, I truly love your blog! I’ve learned so much about real food here.
I didn’t even know about this movie, but I will definitely be seeing it when it is released. What an amazing woman! Great Post… I laughed a few times.
Congratulations!!!
28/06/2009 at 10:19 pm Permalink
Congrats! I loved watching Julia Child on TV when I was a kid. I wasn’t cooking at the time, nor was I even partaking in the types of foods she as creating, but her skill, demeanor and knowledge always kept me glued to her shows.
Carla’s last blog post..SkinnySkinny Sale
29/06/2009 at 12:28 am Permalink
Ann Marie:
You already HAVE made something of yourself – Cheeseslave is a great blog. Thanks for this – the trailer on the Julia movie made me laugh outloud in my quiet office on Monday morning – a good achievement!
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29/06/2009 at 2:03 am Permalink
When I saw the trailer not too long ago, I quickly added the movie to my “mama must see” list for the summer. I read the book a couple years ago (just put it back on my hold list at the library and there is a waiting list!) and loved it! Can’t wait to see it!!
P.S. I direct lots of people to your website – you’re the best!
29/06/2009 at 2:08 am Permalink
What a great article! Ann Marie, you definitely have a place in the cooking world, no worries! I discovered Julia Child a year ago with a nudge from our Atlanta Weston A Price Chapter leader, Lynn Razaitis. I bought 3 of her books online and can truly say she changed my life! Jon and I hosted a potluck dinner where everyone used one of her recipes. It was one of the best meals I ever ate. Since then I have become much more fearless and adventurous in the kitchen. I love her for all the 10 reasons you listed above, and because we’re eating so much better now! Cooking is an adventure. I can’t wait to see the movie. PS When is your blog going to become a book?
29/06/2009 at 2:54 am Permalink
Congratulations! We are very proud of you. I know that I great cookbook will come from this blog. Love this post too! I laughed out loud.
We will definitely see the movie. I too have loved Julia for a very long time. The brownie recipe that I use is from her Julia Child & More Company book. It is the lining for her Bombe aux Trois Chocolats. The inside is a fabulous chocolate mousse and then you drizzle chocolate of the whole thing. To die for!
29/06/2009 at 3:32 am Permalink
Thanks for such a great post! I have to see that movie!
If you are ever at the Smithsonian of American History in DC, you can see Julia Child’s kitchen. They brought the whole kitchen & set it up just like it was in her house. It’s so much fun to see. Plus a lot of other nice stuff in the exhibit – including video of the clip where she said to use cream if butter bothered you.
Your blog is great & gives me a lot of encouragement & good ideas. Thanks for sharing your gifts with all of us.
29/06/2009 at 3:55 am Permalink
I nearly jumped out of my theatre seat when I saw the trailer for Julie & Julia. My husband, sitting next to me, said, “It sure is the year of the food movie. I suppose I’m gonna have to go see this one too?” I told him he could feel free to stay home and babysit but no way was I waiting for the DVD!
I grew up watching Julia on TV, her unique voice was part of the soundtrack of my youth. I didn’t get a lot of her jokes because they were over my head, but I loved how fearless she was in the kitchen. I can’t believe I completely forgot about her wisdom as I aged.
Local Nourishment’s last blog post..A loaf of bread, a jug of…beer?
29/06/2009 at 4:02 am Permalink
What a fabulous profile of an amazing woman. She was the bomb! She always reminded me of my grandmother when I was growing up.
29/06/2009 at 4:04 am Permalink
Jessie -
I did go to the Smithsonian and see her kitchen a few years ago. That was so awesome!
And yes, ha ha! That is where I got the quote about the butter and cream. I remembered that all this time from my trip.
29/06/2009 at 5:02 am Permalink
That is exciting news! Congratulations! I didn’t know that there was an exhibit in D.C. with her kitchen, that gives me a reason to go up and check it out. We like to do the museums very slowly, it can get tiring with all the kids! I am also looking forward to the movie, can’t wait to see it!
29/06/2009 at 9:12 am Permalink
Aw, she’s fantastic. And I didn’t even know there was a movie coming out! Thanks for sharing.
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29/06/2009 at 9:44 am Permalink
I’m such a “new” foodie that I hadn’t even heard much about her until recent years. (GASP!) Not only that, I grew up in mainstream convenience-ville, not exactly her crowd. Now after reading your post, I’m realizing even more how in the dark I was. Sad, I know.
Thanks, Ann Marie!
Kelly
Kelly the Kitchen Kop’s last blog post..Monday Morning Mix-Up 6/29/09
29/06/2009 at 2:46 pm Permalink
Oh – one more thing everyone – you can get old episodes of Julia Child’s shows from Netflix.
30/06/2009 at 10:09 am Permalink
I loved, loved Julia child as a child. She inspired me to be a chef. However I grew up and went to the Navy instead. LOL
I saw the previews for this movie and knew I would be taking a half day to check it out. I found your blog by twitter and I’m glad I stopped by.
There’s is hope for you, keep dreaming and you’ll reach your goals.
From someone seriously thinking about the chef dream again.
P.S. Congrats on your blog being selected for the site. How cool is that?
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30/06/2009 at 10:22 am Permalink
Haha, save the liver! I remember that too. She was a wonderful woman. In Washington DC in the American History museum they have a tribute to her.
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01/07/2009 at 5:19 am Permalink
Great blog!
You are truly a Julia fan, but since I didn’t see mention of it, I must give a shout out to Julia Child’s book, “My Life in France”, written with Alex Prud’homme.
It is THE work for Julia Child fans (aside from “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” of course). While the book “Julia & Julia” tells Julie Powell’s sweet story, “My Life in France” is straight from Julia Child’s mouth, and is the inspiration for half of the movie (all of Julia Child/Meryl’s parts).
Just my two cents!
01/07/2009 at 5:21 am Permalink
And in addition, “My Life in France” will only make you love Julia more. It is truly her voice speaking to you throughout, and I certainly hope the Julia Child parts of this movie live up to the voice within this book.
01/07/2009 at 11:27 pm Permalink
I only got to learn about Julia and the Julie/Julia Project quite recently. Growing up in Germany I had never heard of Julia Child until I saw the trailer, but it got me so intrigued I just had to learn more.
And I couldn’t agree more with your list of ‘ten reasons to love Julia Child’. I mean, what’s not to love about a woman with such a healthy, hearty and utterly optimistic attiude?
Thanks for sharing, and congrats on having your blog linked!
Reuben Morningchilde’s last blog post..Julie, Julia and I
06/07/2009 at 10:19 am Permalink
I got my copy of Julias first book this christmas and it’s one of the best written non-fiction books I’ve ever read.
Also not one should forget that Julia also was a spy (pretty cool) and I believe that she was awarded one of the highest civilian honors this country can bestow the presidential medal of freedom. And as well all said she loved butter and cream, if I met her I would have proposed on the spot.
06/11/2009 at 5:35 am Permalink
An absolutely wonderful movie about 2 amazing ladies. I highly recommend it!
I agree with other posters, it was a tribute to a amazing chef of her generation.
I am inspired to Master the Art of French Cooking.
My birthday is coming up in December, I shall treat myself to a copy of her cookbooks Volume 1 & 2.
Bon Appetite everyone.
Maria Lizette.
17/01/2010 at 10:49 pm Permalink
Great site with awesome recipes! So glad I found you!! Thanks!