Julia Child Night

For Book Club this month we read My Life in France, by Julia Child. The book is mostly about her years in Paris and Marseilles, but goes on to give a brief account of her publishing and TV career as well. I enjoyed the book and was really inspired by how fearless and determined Julia was. Since I added the book to our list for the year, I knew I wanted to host and serve a selection French foods. I checked out her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking and made four recipes from it: an onion soup, cheesy potato biscuits, quiche Lorraine, and a chocolate almond cake. I also served some of the weird pumpkin spice macarons I made, and some fresh strawberries. Our club got a pretty small turn out this month, but no matter because I learned so much and had such a fun time with the whole experience.

A couple of my favorite quotes from My Life in France:

Nothing is too much trouble if it turns out the way it should. Good results require that one take time and care. If one doesn’t use the freshest ingredients or read the whole recipe before starting, and if one rushes through the cooking, the result will be an inferior taste and texture... But a careful approach will result in a magnificent burst of flavor, a thoroughly satisfying meal, perhaps even a life-changing experience.

“Remember, ‘no one’s more important than people’!” In other words, friendship is the most important thing - not career or housework, or one’s fatigue - and it needs to be tended and nurtured.

And the great lesson embedded in the book (From Julia Child’s Kitchen) is that no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing. This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook - try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!

I was simply fascinated by bread and was determined to learn how to bake it for myself. You have to do it and do it, until you get it right.

There are only four great arts: music, painting, sculpture, and ornamental pastry. 

- Chef Claude Thilmont