Cooking for Julia

“The only time to eat diet food is while you’re waiting for the steak to cook.” – Julia Child

How could one not truly admire a person who spoke such wisdom! This Wednesday, August 15th would have been Julia Child’s 100th birthday.  Even though it’s been almost 50 years since her pioneering cooking show The French Chef first aired, Julia is still cherished by hearts (and stomachs) worldwide. It is through moments this like when I believe this saying the most: Food brings people together. Julia’s legacy is proof. If you caught me as a child sitting in front of the television, bets are that a cooking show was on the screen. Julia’s episodes on PBS were the most vivid in memory. Her unique personality, fearlessness, class, and above all, her love of food are more than enough reason to love her unconditionally.

To be honest, I’m finding it difficult to write this post without feeling a tear about escape. For almost 2 years now, Leo and I have been working on Tasty Memories; and although it may seem like it’s only a easy-to-do hobby, it’s been a difficult journey. I’m embarrassed to admit that the number of incidents where I’ve broken down in my own kitchen…are more than 3 times. My friends and family constantly remind me that my ambitions are overwhelming – especially with my current reality: I’m still in college, I work multiple jobs, and my boyfriend is also my business partner. Throw an online cooking show production in the mix and you can imagine the fatigue. Even with all those “obstacles” in mind, I refuse limiting the paths to my goals, my dreams.

What does all this emotional venting have to do with Julia? She is my mentor. She left us in 2004, but I still receive her guidance – not only in the kitchen but especially during these challenging days of my life. My self-confidence at times could fit inside a vanilla pod. My energy can rise like the perfect soufflé and collapse just as quickly as one. Hope is my only constant and Julia reminds me of its existence.

“Upon reflection, I decided I had three main weaknesses: I was confused (evidenced by a lack of facts, an inability to coordinate my thoughts, and an inability to verbalize my ideas); I had a lack of confidence, which cause me to back down from forcefully stated positions; and I was overly emotional at the expense of careful, ‘scientific’ thought. I was thirty-seven years old and still discovering who I was.”  - Julia Child

JULIA WAS A WARRIOR IN PEARLS. Disapproval from others fueled her passion. Thus, magnificent creations spawned from her endeavors. It also helped that her beloved Paul was “the butter to [her] bread” much like Leo is the huancaina to my papas. It is this boundless connection that provides strength in sometimes mysterious ways.

“Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”   - Julia Child

But most importantly, her idea to create a show that filmed recipes for public learning is my ultimate reason for loving her! Tasty Memories exists because of Julia Child. And because of this…I am eternally grateful for her impact in my life.

“I don’t think about whether people will remember me or not. I’ve been an okay person. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve taught people a thing or two. That’s what’s important. Sooner or later the public will forget you, the memory of you will fade. What’s important are the individuals you’ve influenced along the way.”  - Julia Child 

Julia, I hope these videos we created for you make your soul glow as bright as glistening butter :

                                                       How to Make Butter

FACTS: Julia used 753 pounds of butter on Baking with Julia .

There is rose named after her called butter-colored.

                                                        Tomates a la Provencal

                                                          French Onion Soup

Learn more: http://www.pbs.org/food/chefs/julia-child/