Get to know the story of one of the most influential women in gastronomy who had her life portrayed in the movie Julie & Julia
Owner of a captivating smile and a lot of talent in the kitchen, Julia Child is the symbol of the persistence and dedication that every student needs to have to achieve culinary success. The Californian who was frustrated with her professional life discovered a new direction while studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. In 1951, she obtained the Diplôme de Cuisine and became an icon of gastronomy, as a TV presenter and writer of several books. In 2009, she had her history portrayed in the cinema, being interpreted by Meryl Streep in the film Julie & Julia.
Married with a diplomat recently arrived in France, Julia had no idea what to do to pass the free time and decided to enroll in Le Cordon Bleu Paris. At that time, women were trying to conquer professional opportunities and they suffered a lot of discrimination even in the kitchen, being considered suitable only to cook in stoves at home, but not in the professional kitchens. Julia, as a novice cook was directed to be part of the classes for housewives, but soon her talent was showed and she gained prominence in the classes.
I was 37 years old and still discovering who I was.
Shortly after completing her studies at the institute, the chef began working on her book Mastering the Art of French Cooking with two French colleagues. The work is considered the bible of gastronomy for every student, with shows step by step of each recipe and techniques already advanced for that period and that are used until today by professional cookers.
Using her classic "Bon Appétit", Julia Child began presenting The French Chef in 1963 and won the audience by showing that even a person who doesn´t have enough cooking skills can beat this challenge and please the most demanding palates. In a humorous and very original way, the cook gained popularity with her awkward way of cooking and began to inspire several aspirants who also wanted to learn her techniques. Affinity with the public was built in irreverent situations, as when one of her shows tried to turn a pancake and let the dough fall out of the pan, releasing one of its most famous quotes:
When you flip anything, you just have to have the courage of your convictions, particularly if it's sort of a loose mass like this.
During all the years she devoted herself to cooking, the chef released 20 cookery books and continued to gain notoriety. In 1981, she co-founded the American Wine and Food Institute (AIWF), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of gastronomy to this day.
Le Cordon Bleu at the movies: Julia Child was played by Meryl Streep
The actress received the diploma of honor at the institute in Paris
In 2009, her culinary story was played by Meryl Streep in the movie Julie & Julia. With her impeccable performance, the Streep won the Golden Globe for Best Actress and was nominated for an Oscar. To celebrate the film and Streep's performance, Le Cordon Bleu offered the actress a diploma of honor at a ceremony held in Paris.
The Chef left many legacies, among them, to bring people together in a relaxed and simple way, sharing everything she learned in Le Cordon Bleu and her professional experience through TV shows and books. In addition, she presented French cuisine to the United States and popularized recipes and professional kitchen techniques.
Julia Child retired in California in 2001 and died in 2004, but her influence on gastronomy is eternal. In 2012, Le Cordon Bleu's former student would complete 100 years and received honors from the institute and chefs around the world. An unforgettable story that still inspires many cookers!
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!
