Julia Child changed the way Americans viewed food. She made cooking fun. When Paul and Julia Child were stationed in France they went to La Couronne, the oldest restaurant in France where she ordered Sole Meuniere, cooked fish in a butter sauce. " The whole experience was an opening up of the soul and spirt for me ... I was hooked, and for life, as it turned out."(pbs.org/wnet). Julia fought for a spot in and attended Le Cordon Bleu, a famous, all men's cooking school in France, where she classically trained in French cuisine. She developed a desire to teach so that anyone who wanted to prepare French food would know how. Sara Moulton commented that "Julia was never happier than when she was entertaining others." Julia Child understood that food brought people together. Julia Child founded a cooking school in her home in France, spent 10 years writing her cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in the 50’s and after she returned to America in the 60’s she began filming her television show, The French Chef. Julia was the first person to teach cooking on TV. She made her recipes accessible by using common ingredients. She taught a basic technique and then used it to make multiple dishes. Julia Child said, “You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients.” She explained them as she went along. "Her viewers on 104 educational TV stations across the US watch her every move, forgive her every gaffe, and in a word, adore her." (time.com) She spents months perfecting her recipes and hours preparing her TV shows. "Miami's WTHS-TV ran through 117 of her 134 taped shows (the earliest tapes have simply worn out), found demand was so great that the station is now running through the whole series a second time." (time.com) Her respect for the art of food and cooking elevated the profession. Because of her efforts, chefs began to be celebrities and people became involved in all aspects of food. Sara Moulton notes that, "whenever Julia had a dinner gathering the event always began in the kitchen with everyone gathered around joining in the process." Jacques Pepin notes that he, "entered through the 'back door,' the real entrance to the house. The back door led directly to the kitchen." The kitchen as the central gathering point in the home is a change brought about by the revolution in food that Julia Child initiated. Good Morning America, a popular morning news show, began having her as a regular segment to show and teach various cooking techniques. She wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume II and III. Ongoing TV shows like Julia and More Company and Jacques and Julia at Home continued to teach cooking featuring other chefs. Throughout her life Julia Child continued to write cookbooks, teach the art of cookery via television and cooking schools and promote the role of food and the profession of cooking.
Julia Child
A revolution for cooking in America
Picture on right from ~mlive.com/food