Showing results by author "Alex Prud'Homme" in All Categories

This memoir is laced with wonderful stories about the French character, particularly in the world of food, and the way of life that Julia Child embraced so wholeheartedly. Above all, she reveals the kind of spirit and determination, the sheer love of cooking, and the drive to share that with her fellow Americans that made her the extraordinary success she became.

From the moment the ship docked in Le Havre, en route to Paris, in the fall of 1948, Julia had an awakening that changed her life. Soon this tall, outspoken gal from Pasadena, California, who didn't speak a word of French and knew nothing about the country, was steeped in the language, chatting with purveyors in the local markets, and enrolled in the Cordon Bleu.

A lovely discussion between Judith Jones and Alex Prud'homme on their new books, The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food and My Life in France (co-authored by Prud'homme with Julia Child). As a young editor at Knopf, Jones edited Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and a relationship blossomed between her and Child. Since then, Jones has worked with a glorious lineup of cookbook writers from Madhur Jaffrey to Marion Cunningham, and has become an editorial legend.

Julia Child was born hungry, but she was not born a chef. In fact, Julia didn’t discover her passion for cooking until she had a life-changing luncheon in France and became determined to share her newfound love of food with everyone. In Paris, Julia devoured recipe books, shopped in outdoor markets, consumed all kinds of foods, and whipped through culinary school. Through perseverance and grit, Julia became a chef who shared her passion with the world, making cooking fun, and turning every meal into an event. Alex Prud'homme showcases Julia's life and celebrates her enduring legacy.