This part of the blog is very dear to my heart. If you read my “about me” page, you understand my philosophy of the Curvaceous Rebel. We as women play such an important part in life. As nurturing creatures, cooks, chauffeurs, maids, moms, sisters, daughters and spouses. Sometimes we forget that we are individuals, our own special person, out there in the world , killing it.
My Rebel of the week was a true culinary icon. Today I am saluting
Julia Child
She certainly was a Rebel. I remember watching her cooking show when I was young. She was loud, boisterous and bold. She taught so much more than cooking and French techniques. She taught life lessons like not taking yourself too serious, to drink more wine and of course, when in doubt to use more butter.
“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”
Julia Child
All humor aside, Julia was a true pioneer for modern cooking and bringing fine French cuisine in an approachable way to American home cooks. She was the first woman inducted into the Culinary Institute of America Hall of Fame. Her first book: “Mastering the Art of French” cooking was first published in 1961. Though it was an intimidating 726 pages, the book is still in print and has not lost its status as a culinary historic milestone.
If you have ever watched the movie Julia and Julia you might remember the scene where Julia and her husband enjoy their first authentic French meal at La Couronne in Rouen. Julia had sole meunière, a classic French fish dish of sole, pan fried in browned butter sauce. In the scene, Julia leans over the pan when its brought to the table, inhales the smell of the browned butter and almost softly moans: “hmmm, butter.”. To this day, every time I watch the movie, I lean forward and I can smell the browned butter in my head. Julia described the meal as an “opening up of the soul and spirit.”