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Julia Child (August 15, 1912–August 13, 2004) was a famous American gourmet cook, author, and television personality who introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to the American mainstream through her many cookbooks and television programs. Her most famous works are the 1961 cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking and the television series The French Chef, which premiered in 1963.
Youth and World War II
Born Julia Carolyn McWilliams to John and Julia Carolyn ("Caro") McWilliams in the wealthy community of Pasadena, California, she grew up eating traditional New England food prepared by the family maid. She attended Polytechnic School from fourth grade to ninth grade and then The Branson School in Ross, California. After graduating in 1934 from Smith College—where at six feet, two inches (1.88 m) tall she played basketball—with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, she moved to New York City and worked as a copywriter for the advertising department of upscale home-furnishing firm W. & J. Sloane. After returning to California in 1937, shortly before her mother died, she spent four years at home, writing for local publications and briefly working in advertising again. Civic-minded, she volunteered with the American Red Cross and, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) after being turned down by the United States Navy for being too tall.
For a year, she worked at the OSS Emergency Sea Rescue Equipment Section in Washington, D.C., where she was a file clerk and also helped in the development of a shark repellent. In 1944 she was posted to Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where she met her future husband, a high-ranking OSS cartographer, and later to China, where she received the Emblem of Meritorious Civilian Service as head of the Registry of the OSS Secretariat.
More on [ Julia Child ]
Could that be ice in my soup?
Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700
This August 2007 article suggested chilling out -- with a bowl of naeng myun, the served-cold Korean specialty with springy noodles and a tangy broth. Summer in Koreatown has long been marked by the sounds of slurping. The season for naeng myun -- cold noodles -- is now in full swing, and at restaurants across the neighborhood, huge bowlfuls of chewy buckwheat noodles quickly disappear. Occasionally there are pauses for a spoonful of icy-cold tangy broth, a bite of crunchy pickled daikon or cucumber, a sliver of crisp-sweet Asian pear, or a slice of tender beef brisket.
High-end restaurants on a tightrope of economic uncertainty
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Celebrity chefs behind Melisse, Anisette, Craft and other deluxe dining spots try to lure recession-wary diners. PEOPLE always have to eat, but do they have to dine out? That's the question Southern California's top chefs are facing after the last few weeks of grim economic news.
Mix and match to create a spice blend all your own
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Whether it's a Cajun or charmoula combination, add a fresh dimension to a traditional blend of herbs and spices with your own flavor pairings. Bold Cajun blends, Chinese five-spice powder, Caribbean jerk, garam masala garam masala from India, Middle Eastern baharat , Thai green curry paste -- each of these blends of spices and herbs has its origins as a cornerstone of a regional cuisine. Traditionally developed over time and honed through generations, spice blends are calculated combinations of fresh or dry ingredients that create a symphony of flavors. Walk the spice aisle of any store and commercial variations abound.
Julia Child Remembered - Recordings of remembrances and her obituary from National Public Radio (NPR) and links to related sites.
Meta Description: [ Wine Column. ]
Julia Child Uncensored - A collection of audio samples spliced together to have her making comments funny, out of context comments.
Meta Description: [ A collection of Julia Child samples, spliced together to have her making comments about eating Grampa, smoking pot, fat floating through her house, etc. Negativland, John Oswald, Tape-Beatles fans should be especially sure to check this out. Created by Ann Arbor's brilliant Ed Special. ]
Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian - Information on the Julia Child installation at the Smithsonian, including kitchen stories, featured tools, and bibliography.
Meta Description: [ This site from the National Museum of American History chronicles the donation of Julia Child's kitchen to the Smithsonian. ]
Julia Child, Tipping Our Toques to the True Master - Article on the TV chef and a few tips from Julia Child herself.
Meta Description: [ About Julia Child ]
Julia Child: Lessons with Master Chefs - Official site from PBS including techniques, recipes, and tips.
Meta Description: [ Together with world-reknown master chefs, Julia Child cooks
and bakes more than 100 unique and delicious dishes, each designed for the
home cook. Search online streaming video and locate recipes for four
award-winning Julia Child cooking shows at this PBS culinary site. ]
NPR: Julia Child's Kitchen on Display - Article about the Smithsonian Museum's installation of her kitchen.
Meta Description: [ Julia Child, the woman who helped ignite a food revolution in the United States, today handed her kitchen over to the nation. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History opened a new exhibit Monday featuring the Cambridge, Mass. kitchen where Child filmed many of her television shows -- a... ]
Salon.com: Julia Child - Profile of America's most famous chef.
Meta Description: [ At 87, America's most famous and influential chef is about to serve up a new book and a new TV series, and again take us into her culinary embrace. ]
StarChefs: Julia Child - Includes a biography, interview, and recipes.
| From 1978. Lived to be 91 in 2004 - a few drops of congnac never hurt anything. Difficult to discuss Julia without ... | |
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