Chef, author and television icon Julia Child would have had her 100th birthday this month. She was born on August 15, 1912 in Pasadena, California and had a reputation from the beginning as a lively prankster with an adventurous personality.
In 1948, Julia moved to Paris, France with her husband Paul Child. She quickly developed a passion for French cuisine and attended the Cordon Bleu cooking school. She used her training to adapt sophisticated French recipes for Americans in a two-volume cookbook called Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The 734 page, 3 pounds heavy cookbook was a bestseller for five years after it was published.
To promote her cookbook, Julia prepared one of her recipes for an omelet on public television and was an instant hit. This led to the debut of her first TV show, The French Chef, in 1962. She filmed each episode as if it were live, maintaining a low budget without retakes and adding comedic effects with her mistakes.
She stayed in the spotlight well into her old age, passing away just before her 92nd birthday in 2004. Click here for 10 little-known facts about her life. (For example, 573 pounds of butter were used during her show Baking with Julia!)
We all have a favorite Julia Child recipe – what’s yours? To celebrate Julia’s life and all-around culinary awesome-ness, we have gathered some classic Julia Child recipes from around the web. Keep reading for the links!
- French Onion Soup
- Bouillabaisse a la Marseillaise
- Croque Monsieur
- Pissaladiere Nicoise
- Quiche Lorraine
- Ratatouille
- Beef Bourguignon
- Coq au Vin
- Poulet au Porto
- Sole Meuniere
- Pommes Souffles
- Reine de Saba
- Chocolate Roulade
- Espresso Souffle
- Chocolate Mousse
- Creme Brulee
- Apple Tarte Tatin
Thank you Julia for leaving a legacy of cooking tips and delicious recipes!
