Oh, Julia

I know that Julia Child is getting a lot of buzz right now, and maybe it's cliche now to write a blog about her, but I don't care. I am enchanted by her! I'm reading her My Life in France and have fallen in love with her and with the idea of France. Julia's husband Paul captured some really lovely photos-- I really love the ones she included. Reading a book like this is bittersweet-- I love the way Julia describes the sights, smells and tastes of Paris, but my envious side yearns to go and experience it all for myself. This is how she describes her first meal in Paris:

"I closed my eyes and inhaled the rising perfume. Then I lifted a forkful of fish to my mouth, took a bite, and chewed slowly. The flesh of the sole was delicate, with a light but distinct taste of the ocean that blended marvelously with the browned butter. I chewed slowly and swallowed. It was a morsel of perfection."

I first wanted to read My Life in France after seeing Julie and Julia, starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams with my dear friend Tricia. We both loved Meryl Streep's character in this movie, and you could see Julia perfectly through her. Julia was fascinating-- a perfect blend of compassion, joy, chatter, honesty and robust laughter. She is one of the most well-known chefs and she began by barely knowing anything about cooking. I left the theater enchanted by Julia Child, her photographer husband Paul, and by lovely 1950's France. The book is better. Not only do I love Julia's descriptions that create vivid mental pictures of Paris, my mouth never stops watering!