Essential Cooking: Remembering Julia Child, an American Culinary Icon

In honor of Julia Child’s 108th birthday, Ann Delisi and Chef James Rigato celebrate Child’s monumental impact on culinary education and entertainment in America.

Julia Child is an American culinary icon. Her magnetic personality was larger than life, and her passion for combining education and entertainment remain unmatched. Her pioneering PBS television programs, like The French Chef, Cooking with Master Chefs, and In Julia’s Kitchen, made home cooking fun and easy for a generation of Americans.

What many people don’t know is that Julia Child was something of a late bloomer. Born in 1912, Child enrolled in a 10-week professional cooking program in France in 1949. The U.S. government paid for her tuition in the program in return for her previous service for the Office of Strategic Services. In 1951, she received her diploma from Le Cordon Bleu and her culinary career was officially underway at the age of 38.

“I’ve finally found a real and satisfying profession which will keep me busy well into the year 2000.” – Julia Child


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In this episode

  • Julia Child’s impact on home cooking in America
  • Working to support U.S. spies
  • Enrolling in culinary school in 1949 at the age of 37
  • Her relationship with Chef Jacques Pepin
  • Famous and funny sayings from Julia Child

Clip from “Julia and Jacques: Cooking at Home” courtesy of A La Carte Productions.

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Author

  • Ann Delisi
    Ann Delisi hosts Essential Music, the Essential Conversations podcast series and the Essential Cooking broadcast and podcast. Born and raised in the Motor City, Ann is a broadcaster, interviewer, producer, music host, storyteller and proud Detroiter.