This is the weekend for My Life in France. Are you as fascinated by Julia Child as I am? I learnt of her long after she was America's favourite and a personality in France. I imagine if you grew up in the States, Julia child was a household name... not so for me in Australia.
I have read most of her works, studied and cooked from her tome Mastering the Art of French Cooking and watched over and over the film, Julie and Julia, starring my favourite actress Meryl Streep. Now I am onto the TV series, The French Chef... You could say I have a crush... I think it is Child's love of France that I find so infectious, her joie de vivre for food and the joy in which she embraces her adopted country...
I am particularly looking forward to reading, As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto... this is a new one for me...
If you are in the mood for a weekend with Julia child I heartily recommend the following...
My Life In France... (I am already a couple of chapters in...)
Mastering the Art of French Cooking... (a staple for any Francophile...)
Julie and Julia... ( the film... for Ms Streep, her magnificence and the Paris sets...)
As Always Julia:The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto... ( My new page turner...)
The French Chef... (Old fashioned but that is the charm...)
(European readers can find Julia Child's books here)
Thank you for all your wonderful comments and emails this week... you are the very best...
Happy Weekend
xv
Yes of course like many Americans, her program on PBS was permitted in a household where TV was practically verboten. And I am so proud of my First Edition "Mastering the Art" even in its beat up state--even my French honey will look into it when he can't remember how something is made!
ReplyDeleteDid you get the email that I sent (I know that you are busy, no worries)? Bon WE!
Hello Vicki
ReplyDeleteYou summed up the essence of Julie Child, "her joie de vivre and passion"
They say one likes those who are similar to us and I believe you also live your life with passion,joy, learning and your gusto in sharing what you love with us.
Helen xx
Une publication adorable... Je vous fais de gros bisous et si un jour l'envie vous venait de me rendre visite en France, nous pourrions cuisiner ensemble... Je cuisine beaucoup...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen, it was her infectious personality that made her stand out from the crowd. And although the movie was fun, and Meryl Streep was amazing, My Life is France is even better entertainment!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen, I think it was her infectious spirit that made Julia so successful. And while the movie was fun, and Meryl Streep gave her usual outstanding performance, I found My Life in France much more entertaining!!
ReplyDeleteOh I loved Julie and Julia. I guess the blogger in me secretly thinks I'll hit it big one day too! How silly is that. I swear, when I think of Julia now, I still see and hear Meryl Streep. Isn't she just a treasure? I'd love to read My Life in France. I think I'll head to the library this morning in fact.
ReplyDeleteBon weekend chère V!
xx
V
My Life In France will give you a new appreciation of Julia. After reading it I was really amazed at how much she overcame and did, and the love she and her husband shared. It on my Top 10 of all books!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Boston and was an avid fan of 'The French Chef'. In fact, my first cookbook was the paperback version of 'The French Chef Cookbook' purchased in the early '70s. I still have it and referred to it frequently despite its brittle pages and missing cover. Last year I finally retired the paperback when I found a hardback edition from 1968 online.
ReplyDeleteVicki I loved Julie and Julia!! Childs had such personality and then her fabulous accent I think so many Americans were immediately drawn to her!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Many years ago I was fortunate enough to attend a luncheon at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables where Julia was speaking and a luncheon was being served from one of her own recipes. All this for the amazing price of $15.
ReplyDeleteI vividly recall her story about her arrival in France and that she had no clue what would await or the path her life would follow.
She then told the story about her arrival (current date) at a train station in Europe and all the steps that had to be traversed to get to the top without benefit of escalator or moving staircase. She remarked to her traveling companion, 'What do old people do?' And then she climbed the stairs. Amusing as she was closing in on 80 at that time.....
Best, Lisa http://ladolcevila.net
When my parents came over to France for the first time I sat them down to watch 'Julie and Julia' - a fabulous film of such energy and enthusiasm. My parents know nothing about France and I wanted them to get a feel for all that passion - summed up by live lobsters and fresh market stalls and Julia Child! My favourite phrase "what shall I doooo?" inspired me to take up the whisk and the rolling-pin and enroll myself in Rouen's Patisserie school! For me I am following Julia's first steps, only the head of my cooking school is a lot more encouraging than the woman she had to deal with!!! I blow a raspberry in Julia's honour!
ReplyDeleteI read my Life in France after the movie came out and thoroughly enjoyed it. Mrs Child's enthusiasm and zest for life were uplifting and inspiring, even more than her talent in the kitchen. What the book reveals if that she was, first and foremost, an open-minded lady, interested in understanding other cultures than her own. She bloomed wherever she was planted, not just in France, and always tried to learn the language when she lived abroad so she could relate to locals and understand their lifestyle. Good for Julia. An example to follow. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)
ReplyDeleteWow! Me too. I watched Julie & Julia and I was smitten, bought the book, started cooking and loved the results- so did my hubby. Then, like you I read the other books and I watch the shows on daytime TV while I'm doing my ironing (so I don't feel lazy) I also discovered Netflix through reading Julie & Julia, as I'm a Brit in Florida and wasn't au fait with American TV, so I have to thank the book for that too. Hope you share your fav recipes with us! take care, Sally @ Enlightenment for the sleepy xxx
ReplyDeleteI love her!
ReplyDeleteLove Julia, love that lady!
ReplyDeleteI loved both the book, Julie and Julia, and the movie. Meryl Streep is an awesome actress, and, possibly, my favorite. As to attempting to master any of Julia's recipes, the time hasn't yet come for that. We shall see. Maybe in this new year, I shall give it a try. Happy weekend to you, lovely Vicki!
ReplyDeleteAh darling Julia, we miss you so!!! She made TV worth watching for so many years when I was a young mum in Massachusetts in the sixties, missing England and trying to cook good food for my family on a very limited budget. Life was hard then, but Julia's kitchen shenanigans made me laugh, and kept me sane perhaps! Loved the movie and Meryl, the book of her incredible life, and of course often flip open another of her cookbooks, 'The Way To Cook' when my kitchen needs help!
ReplyDeleteGreat post Vicki - bet you're a great 'French chef' yourself!!
Hugs - Mary
After seeing the movie (Julie & Julia) when it came out, I read everything I could get my hands on.I really enjoyed "My Life in France." If you feel like you still need a fix after reading it, I recommend reading the "Julie & Julia" book. It was really entertaining.
ReplyDeleteIt's raining and humid in Brisbane now...so I'm off to the video store to get Julie and Julia. Couldn't think of a nicer way to spend a Sunday arvo. A bientot.
ReplyDeleteLove Ms. Child. I loved watching her show growing up. It was on every morning on PBS when i was around 10-11 or so. Watched it with my Mum.. during the summer and on vacations, etc. She was one of a kind in the very best way. :) Miss her lots. That voice. That verve! And especially her mastery of cooking. There is no one like her. No one.
ReplyDeletel adored the movie, Julia and Julia. l loved the enormous enthusiasm and passion Meryl Streep portrayed so well.
ReplyDeleteI loved Julie and Julia! I'm hooked! x
ReplyDeleteI loved the Julie and Julia film, the one every blogger can identify with! Great recommendations Vicki
ReplyDeleteSharon
x
Hi Vicki: yes, I grew up watching her as my mother loved her too...funny I was doing my Pilates in my basement not 3 weeks ago and the French Chef was on and I was quickly transported back to childhood and drawn right into Julia's lovely little kitchen with the peg rack for her pots and pans...which, incidentally is now a permanent installment at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. I too loved that movie as well and thought Meryl was sublime. Have a wonderful weekend! ;-))
ReplyDeleteA dear girlfriend of mine sent me her copy of My Life in France not long after Julie and Julia came out. Made it all the more special reading it. Enjoy yours, Vicki...
ReplyDeleteYes I'm so intrigued by her and just watched Julie & Julia AGAIN last week!
ReplyDeleteI will be getting that book!
xxx
I love Julie & Julia and have watched it to many times to mention. It was (apart from your gorgeous books) the reason we tried and enjoyed as many foods as we could last July whilst visiting St Remy, France & Italy. Julia and Julie have a way of inspiring you to try different foods and enjoy every moment. Love it and your blogs Vicki :)
ReplyDeleteMy Life in France is a great read and helped me get through my first couple months of living in France...If Julia could do it, so could I! We were given the Mastering the Art cookbook set for our wedding, was just flipping though the 2nd one last night, very timely post - what's not to love about Julia!
ReplyDeleteI loved the film and shortly after seeing it was delighted to receive Mastering the Art of French Cooking as a gift - I would like to read My Life in France - I'm sure it would bring back many memories of my wonderful year living near Bordeaux - I think I'll treat myself!
ReplyDeletehttp://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/
Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI would love to read My Life in France. I ready Appetite for Life years ago and found it interesting for this JC fan. I too learned some of my basic cooking skills with the help of her Mastering the Art of French cooking. What a fun weekend you'll have.
Karen
Dear Vicki
ReplyDeleteHave just returned from a week away, attending an elderly relative's funeral and catching up with other rels and old friends - far from the internet and blog land. Amazing coincidence, on return read your post: have also just finished reading My Life in France while away. Was introduced to Mastering the Art of French Cooking by an American student in England many years ago -she couldn't believe I had never heard of Julia Child (don't think it had reached Australia at that point). After eating her Normandy chicken I bought the book immediately and have been cooking from it ever since. Also loved Julie and Julia (especially Meryl Streep in the role and Stanley Tucci (one of my faves) as Paul. Julia was an amazing person, in addition to all the qualities Helen describes, she also had enormous strength of character, determination, perseverence despite so many setbacks, patience, and thoroughness as well as an amazing sense of humour. She and her husband Paul were so very lucky in each other - so well matched in their joie de vivre, passion for their shared and complementary interests - and in their sense of the absurd. Life was often not easy for either of them but they lived it with enthusiasm and commitment and Julia at least has become an icon.
Hope you're feeling beter soon!
Julie and Julia, one of my favourite film ever, unfortunately France ignored the film and was given very poor reviews by french film journalists. Meryl Streep was amazing, I just loved it and watch it again regularly! the book is very powerful too, starting a carreer well into your 50ies can only give hope to many women out there with true talent! "You are butter to my bread and breath to my life" says her husband! how powerful is that!
ReplyDeleteI just recently descovered your blog and have become addicted to it! Bonne journé. Catherine
Dear Vicky! I am also one of the later admirer of Julia Child. I just saw the film recently with my daughter and we both fell in Love with her! We watched it as a preparation for our upcoming Paris-Trip this summer. And now I am so happy I discovered your blog! I will Be following you now that I found you! Thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYvonne