In Celebration of Julia

'Julie and Julia' movie trailer

Before Giada, Ina, Paula, or Emeril came along, there was the Culinary Queen...the original....Julia Child. Her wit, charm...and that unmistakable voice. She was truly a force to be reckoned with.

August is going to be a very exciting month for Julia fans. First, the much-anticipated new movie Julie & Julia will be released on August 7th. And then...one month from today, on August 15th, foodies around the globe will celebrate Julia's birthday.

I can honestly say that there's no celebrity out there that I can really relate to...except for Julia. You've probably been asked the question, "If you could meet one famous person, dead or alive, who would it be?" There's no doubt that I would choose Julia. There are so many questions I'd like to ask her...so many things that I'd love to discuss with her. I'm currently reading her memoir, My Life in France. It has quickly become one of my favorite books I've ever read...and I'm not even finished with it yet. She is so inspiring. She has certainly inspired me and taught me to never give up...no matter how hard that recipe...or life in general!...seems.

I had no idea that she started her career so late in life. I guess I always just assumed she always loved cooking. Surprisingly, that was not the case! Did you know that she didn't really even start her career in the culinary world until she was 39 years old?? She discovered herself...and her love for cooking...in Paris. There's something magical about that city. I constantly find myself daydreaming about our visit there this past February. The food...the people...the culture...the markets...the "joie de vivre". Oh, I would love to live there for a year...or 2...or 10!

There are so many quotes from Julia in My Life in France that I love. There's one in particular that stands out in my mind and sums things up:

"By now I knew that French food was it for me. I couldn't get over how absolutely delicious it was. Yet my friends, both French and American, considered me some kind of nut: cooking was far from being a middle-class hobby, and they did not understand how I could possibly enjoy doing all the shopping and cooking and serving by myself. Well, I did! And Paul encouraged me to ignore them and pursue my passion."

It's quotes like these that make me love her and inspire me to "pursue my passion" as well.

There's one other quote that reminds me of how I felt after going to Paris...

"...I felt a lift of pure happiness every time I looked out the window. I had come to the conclusion that I must really be French, only no one had ever informed me of this fact. I loved the people, the food, the lay of the land, the civilized atmosphere, and the generous pace of life."

I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about the new movie, Julie & Julia. A few months ago when I saw the trailer for the first time, I was like a little kid. The preview in the theater was the first I'd even heard of it. When it came on and I realized what it was, I leaned forward in my seat, squeezed Brad's hand tighter and tighter as the preview went on, and I couldn't take my eyes away from the screen. I was SO excited and happy about the movie...I know that sounds dorky, but darn it...I was thrilled! LOL. You better believe I'll be one of the first people in line on August 7th to buy my movie ticket!

So, in honor of Julia...now through the end of August, I'm going to conquer several recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. And of course, I'll post all about my experiences here! Stay tuned for more Julia!

I'll leave you with one final quote from Chef Bugnard in Julia's memoir that is so true:

"You never forget a beautiful thing that you have made...even after you eat it, it stays with you - always."

Photo of Julia Child courtesy of http://www.muddysbakeshop.com/