Julia Child
Julia Child Celebration
Saturday, August 15th, noon to 2 pm.
We couldn't let the opening of the new Julie & Julia movie go by without us throwing some sort of party - after all August 15th would have been Julia's 97th Birthday! Over the years Julia visited The Cookbook Store four times for book signings. We cherish every moment and will share the highlights with you.
So come to the store between noon and 2 pm. and share your favourite Julia moments, memories and inspirations. Hopefully you will have seen the movie which opens August 7th and we can discuss. (FYI some of the staff have already seen a preview and love it!)
We will have food inspired by Julia and, if you would like to make something special that reminds you of Julia please bring it along, although not necessary, a sort of Julia pot luck if you will.
Read a review of Julie & Julia by the Cookbook Store's Jennifer Grange.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Julia Child, Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle
This is the book, originally published in 1961, that made Julia Child a household name and changed the way North Americans cook. Though the classic recipes are often long, the steady voice that rings out through the step-by-step instructions can keep just about anyone on track. The boeuf bourguignon is simply the best ever. One of the interesting things one notices is how many of the ingredients that were exotic then, are not just readily available now, but are readily available fresh. Line drawings.
684 pp. $60.00 hardcover, $42.00 softcover.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume II
Julia Child
Nine years in the works, and without the assistance of Louisette Bertholle, this volume is more a baker’s book. Besides a selection of French cakes, there is a real labour of love: Julia’s translation of French bread for North American home bakers. Line drawings. $90.00 hardcover, $42.00 softcover.
The French Chef
Julia Child
Julia Child’s first book on her own accompanied her first television series which began airing in February, 1963. With the Kennedys and their French chef in the White House, there was a captive audience for Julia’s classic French cooking from bouillabaisse to millefeuilles. Black and white photos of Julia in action. Softcover, 424 pp. $21.95.
 The Way to Cook
Julia Child
The most American of all of Julia child’s book, this was the last book she wrote on her own. It stands with The Joy of Cooking ($39.99) and The Fannie Farmer Cookbook ($37.95) as one of the great general reference cookbooks. Unlike Joy and Fannie, The Way to Cook has much better layout and dozens of step-by-step colour photos.
511 pp. $90.00 hardcover, $59.95 softcover.
Jacques and Julia Cook at Home
Julia Child and Jacques Pepin
Receive two, two, two opinions for the price of one in this collaboration between a French chef who made his name in America and an American who made her name by popularizing French cooking in the US. Though they disagree usually mildly--on many topics, their mutual respect and affection lights up the whole book. Colour photos. Hardcover, 448 pp. $65.00.
Baking with Julia
Dorie Greenspan
This book accompanied the Public Broadcasting Service series of the same name. Hosted by Julia Child, each program demonstrated different techniques while introducing a who’s who of bakers across the continent Gale Gand, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid, Beatrice Ojakangas, Marion Cunningham, Nick Malgieri… Colour, black and white photos. Hardcover, 481 pp. $49.95.
 My Life in France
Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme
My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud’homme
Published posthumously, My Life in France is a memoir by collaboration between Julia Child and her husband’s great nephew. Though Alex Prud’homme is the writer, it is Julia’s trill that rings out from the pages. From her fateful meeting with Paul Child in WWII China to the culinary awakening that turned her from a woman at loose ends to a cultural icon, Julia lived a life very much guided by her natural curiosity. This book , along with Julie & Julia, is the basis of the movie of the same name. Black and white photos. Softcover, 368 pp. $18.95.
Read a review of My
Life in France by The Cookbook Store's Jennifer Grange.
Kitchen Wisdom
Julia Child
Inspired by Julia's own notebooks, "trials, errors and remedies". A lovely compendium of techniques and conversation; you can almost hear her voice over your shoulder guiding you to perfection, or near perfection! Hardcover, 144 pp. $25.95.
Our Memories
of Julia 1912 - 2004
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Alison Fryer with the legendary Julia
Child. |
Julia Child, the culinary touchstone for so many of us, died in her sleep
on Thursday, August 12th, 2004 three days before her 92nd birthday.
Her achievements are well-known: the books beginning with Mastering
the Art of French Cooking that enabled legions of home cooks
to prepare dishes previously left to chefs: her tireless promotion of
French and American food, including co-founding the American Institute
of Food and Wine. Beyond the food world, she was an enthusiastic supporter
of liberal causes.
Although she did not have children of her own, she always had time for
younger member of the food community - and at her age younger meant anyone
form Jacques Pepin, Alice Waters, Patricia Wells on down to the lowliest
line cook toiling in an unsung restaurant in the middle of nowhere.
We were honoured to host book signings with Julia four times over the course
of a decade. The first was on a rather misty autumn morning: the lineup
of eager fans began before six. Our manager, Alison accompanied Julia the
two blocks from her hotel at the other end of the street to our shop. For
Alison it was as though she were walking with royalty, and in a way she
was.
Heads turned, there were whispers as passersby realized with whom they
were sharing the sidewalk. As the pair approached the waiting fans, the
whispers rose to a crescendo a ripple moved down, then back up the line
as Julia passed. Someone started to clap, the rest joined it.
Unlike many other celebrities whose on screen persona is at great remove
from their true selves, with Julia what you saw was what she was. She was
an authentic person. She was an endlessly patient person, always kind with
her fans whether they became tongue-tied or turned into blithering idiots
in her presence. No matter how long the lineup, Julia was always willing
to pose for a picture with anyone bearing her books. If books were falling
apart and splashed upon the more she loved it.
Even after retreating to a retirement community in Santa Barbara, Julia
stayed involved, curious to the end. Her assistant, quoted in the New
York Times, summed it up best: "She lived until she died."
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