BREAKING NEWS: Julia Child Dead at 91

[CO Liberal]

They just announced it on CBS Radio News. She died in her sleep last night, three days shy of her 92nd birthday.

* * * * *

Julia Child dead at 91

Chef helped revolutionize cuisine in America



NEW YORK (AP) -- Julia Child, whose warbling, encouraging voice and able hands brought the intricacies of French cuisine to American home cooks through her television series and books, died in her sleep three days before what would have been her 92nd birthday.

"America has lost a true national treasure," Nicholas Latimer, director of publicity for Alfred A. Knopf publishing, said in a statement Friday. "She will be missed terribly."

The statement said she died Thursday at her home in Santa Barbara, California. The cause of death was not given.

A 6-foot-2 American folk hero, "The French Chef" was known to her public as Julia, and preached a delight not only in good food but in sharing it, ending her landmark public television lessons at a set table and with the wish, "Bon appetit."

<more>

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/13/obit.child.ap/index.html

[spinbaby]

1. Awwww....

I will miss her so much.

[trotsky]

2. A cultural icon.

Will be missed.

[CO Liberal]

5. "Save the Liver!!!"

Every time I saw her on PBS, I would think of that SNL skit that Dan Akroyd did. Julis herself said that was one of the funniest things she ever saw.

[MaryH]

19. I remember that skit. The one where she bled to death

in the kitchen.

[Kolesar]

57. "I've just cut the dickens out of my finger" ... eom

[0rion]

59. LAFF. I remember that one.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

67. I saw that one live

in the studio audience. A friend of mine had a cousin who worked in the make-up department, and he gave us his comp tickets. I'll never forget that show, because he was so pleased with the way the blood-spurting arm turned out.

RIP Julia...

[sniffa]

3. i wonder if her brattLe st. home is on the market now

[MaineDem]

10. I think that sold a while ago

She moved to CA.

[sniffa]

21. oops

as a native son of cantabridgia i probabLy shouLd have known that.

[BrotherBuzz]

11. She had been living in Santa Barbara

for the last few years, although she was a native of Pasadena. I don't know the status of her house in Cambridge.

[TaleWgnDg]

33. Julie gave her home (charitable donation) to a local college . . .

when leaving for California a few years ago to retire. However, the kitchen and all its famous accoutrements were packed up and sent to the Smithsonian Museum. Recently, though, that college placed her home in Cambridge on the market for sale. Dunno the recent status of it, sorry.

[MaineDem]

35. You're right

I think it was Lesley College, now that I think about it.

[TaleWgnDg]

66. yup . . . but not Lesley . . .

November 2001 Julia Child donated her lovely home in Cambridge, Massachusetts to her (1934) alma mater, Smith College, before leaving Massachusetts to live in a retirement home in California.

However, the entire kitchen was crated and moved to the Smithsonian . . .

http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2001/nov/child/011109.child.html (as last visited August 13, 2004)

I recall reading an article in the Boston Globe a few months ago that Smith was selling Julia's home but I have no knowledge of any subsequent real estate sale . . . I was torn that Smith had placed her home on the market and wondered at the time what were Julia's thoughts about her alma mater selling the home in which she lived for so many years, from which she had done so many of her original GBH television shows, and that she had so kindly donated to Smith.

I guess Smith didn't want a house so close to Harvard and its old rival Radcliffe!??

[The Sushi Bandit]

46. Totally Insensitive!!!

If you cant say something nice... don't say it at all!

[sniffa]

47. they can stop adding saLt to cooking sherry now

is that nicer?

[Dr Fate]

4. I'll make an Omlette in her honor!!!

I just hope I dont cut my hand!

[CO Liberal]

44. Yes - Don't Cut the Dickens Out of It!!!

:-)

[Bridget Burke]

6. When asked about her longevity: "beef & gin"

She certainly had a long & interesting life.

[calico1]

8. I remember her saying she did not

believe in diets or dieting. She believed in everything in moderation. She was a great teacher. I have volume I of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and its really a wonderful reference book.

[AspenRose]

24. I bet I'm not the only one curious about her diet

butter....pate....rich sauces....and look at how long she lived.

[calico1]

55. She said she ate the way the French do.

Rich sauces, cheeses, etc. Just not a lot of anything. Makes perfect sense to me. That and a little activity.

[Obamarama]

7. I was just reading one of her cookbooks last night!

We're spending a month in an apartment in Paris in October and I was scouting out recipes to prepare for dinner while there.

What a fascinating, rich, fulfilling and long life she led. My she rest in peace.

I think I'll make a good cassoulet tonight in her honor.

Au revoir, Madame Julia!

[wryter2000]

9. Noooooooo....

I consider her my cooking teacher and friend, even though I only met her once. Life isn't going to be the same without her. :(

The rest of the world could learn some lessons about integrity, warmth, and humor from her.

[demnan]

12. Bon Appetit !!!!

Good bye Julia, godspeed.

[HereSince1628]

63. I hope she was ready to leave the table...

She provided many years of enjoyment and education.

I remember watching her on Ch. 11 (PBS) out of Chicago in the 60's. The station's strength barely made an image through the "snow," but Julia was interesting to watch.

"The French Chef" on tv and the "Joy of Cooking" in the pantry brought me and my brothers into a world were cooking was something to enjoy rather than despise. I learned how to pronounce "crudite" from her.

She challenged so many and enriched everyone...

If there are after dinner drinks in Heaven, Julia is relaxing with a glass of Port. Good-bye Dear. You will live as long as our memories hold you.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Awwwwwwww

That is so sad....I loved her...and her recipes

[Kadie]

14. RIP Julia

Thanks for the memories.

[Algorem]

15. first time i heard someone croaked and got hungry

[qanda]

23. Good thing I wasn't drinking anything when I read that

[AFSCME girl]

27. No kidding n/t

;)

[auburngrad82]

16. An American Legend

whose specialty was French cooking. Take that right-wingers!

[mountainvue]

17. She had a long

happy life. Bless her.

[qanda]

18. She lived a good life

And was blessed with many years. Rest in peace Julia.

[MaryH]

20. Wasn't she a spy

during the 2nd world war?

She was an amazing person.

[MallRat]

25. Julia Child worked for the OSS.

From, of all places, an NPR Morning Edition write-up of an exhibition about female spies:

Decades before becoming a famous chef, she worked for the Office of Strategic Services. (The OSS was the predecessor to the CIA.) She was assigned to solve a problem for U.S. naval forces during World War II: Sharks would bump into explosives that were placed underwater, setting them off and warning the German U-boats they were intended to sink.

"So... Julia Child and a few of her male compatriots got together and literally cooked up a shark repellent," that was used to coat the explosives, McCarthy says.

[TheRovingGourmet]

32. "cooked up a shark repellent"

Was it low-carb, by any chance?

[MaineDem]

22. An amazing woman - spy and chef!

I love her life story. What an inspiration.

RIP, Julia.

[TaleWgnDg]

26. . . . "this is JEW-lee-yah Child . . . "

R.I.P., Julia, we will miss you . . . from all of us who you taught from your home in Cambridge, your own kitchen . . . then from the GBH studios . . .

:-(

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

28. The first show I saw was the famous "cleaning the chicken" episode

She certainly wasn't timid about cleaning chickens. I became an instant fan. Thanks for the memories, Julia.

:toast:

[CBHagman]

29. A feminist, an artist and an original.

Thanks for being with us, J.C.

And they'll be having great meals in heaven tonight...

[AFSCME girl]

30. What a cool and wonderful lady

Godspeed, Julia :(

[lukasahero]

31. I'm heartbroken

Rest in peace, Ms. Child. You have earned it.

[Missy Vixen]

34. Another legend gone

That dinner table is getting a little too full this year, and it's only August.

I received one of her cookbooks as a wedding gift. I think I'll have to get it out sometime this weekend and make something in honor of a true American original.

Julie

[Gregorian]

36. I'll always remember Julia.

What a wonderful woman. How sad to see you go.

[CO Liberal]

37. Here's a Link to The Story On CNN

After I posted this here, I realized I could still update the original message. So I placed this story there as well. - Wayne

* * * * *

Julia Child dead at 91

Chef helped revolutionize cuisine in America



NEW YORK (AP) -- Julia Child, whose warbling, encouraging voice and able hands brought the intricacies of French cuisine to American home cooks through her television series and books, died in her sleep three days before what would have been her 92nd birthday.

"America has lost a true national treasure," Nicholas Latimer, director of publicity for Alfred A. Knopf publishing, said in a statement Friday. "She will be missed terribly."

The statement said she died Thursday at her home in Santa Barbara, California. The cause of death was not given.

A 6-foot-2 American folk hero, "The French Chef" was known to her public as Julia, and preached a delight not only in good food but in sharing it, ending her landmark public television lessons at a set table and with the wish, "Bon appetit."

<more>

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/08/13/obit.child.ap/index.html

[giant_robot]

38. Awww

I'm incredibly bummed out by this. I was going to cook italian this weekend, but in Julia's honor, I think I'll pull out one of her cookbooks and do a french meal.

Farewell, Julia! Watching cooking shows on PBS will never be the same for me.

[Buck Turgidson]

39. Julia anecdote

She was over 80 and filming one of her TV specials. They showed Julia dragging her luggage through Heathrow airport headed for some distant gate. The camera guy offered to help. Julia said, "No, thanks. But I wonder what the old people do?"

*sniff*

[Ruby Romaine]

40. I have a CIA (spy not chef school) Cookbook

with prefaces to chapters written by Julia Child- It's really interesting!
Title is-
Spies, Black Ties, & Mango Pies: Stories and Recipes from CIA Families All over the World

[MsUSA]

41. Mastering the Art of French Cooking.......

my husband's bible for cooking. We'd laugh when she'd be preparing some sort of fish dinner and she would always slap it pretty hard talking about how the fish was caught or what wine would enhance the flavor of the fish. She will be missed. RIP Julia.

[edbermac]

42. I bet freepers will trash her for being an expert in FRENCH cuisine!

I guarantee it! Just wait and see...

:toast:

[CO Liberal]

43. They'll Refer to Her as "The FREEDOM Chef"

Morans.....

[The Sushi Bandit]

45. God Bless you Julia!!

You will be truly missed!!

[HGSpectre]

48. A great spirit...

has taken leave. I remember even as a young kid watching her show and being fascinated. She just radiated an intense intelligence and a love for what she did. A down to earth, "suffer no fools lightly" attitude, never ending curiosity and as they say over the pond, joie de vivre. A good, full life well lived and I'm sure she's sipping a good full bodied Pinot Noir with St. Peter. Save the liver and God speed you Julia. I raise a glass to you, with a tear on the rim.

:cry:

[jus_the_facts]

49. RIP Julia.....she was such a trip.....

:loveya:

:cry:

[Book Lover]

50. Rest well, dear madam

My spouse and I just watched a "Julia and Jacques" episode a few days ago; I loved the way she worked with Jacques Pepin in particular (because he reminds me so much of my own chef father), but with every guest chef, she always had something insightful to say, highlighting differences in styles, or pointing out the similarities in seemingly different schools of thought.

Bon appetit, Mrs. Child!

[PopSixSquish]

51. Go in Peace Julia

what a wonderful, classy lady.

[Mandate My Ass]

52. She was a great lady and a great chef

Always fun to watch and to learn from. RIP, Julia.

I hope there's a feast waiting for you on the other side.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

53. RIP, Julia...

... I was entranced by her personality as a kid, watching a few minutes of "The French Chef" after Sesame Street/Electric Company was done on PBS.

I still love to cook.

[JPace]

54. Heaven just got a really great cook!

We will miss you Julia.....

[Burma Jones]

56. Well, we should all live such a life

Bon Voyage, you rule.

[xxqqqzme]

58. when I married,

I knew NOTHING about cooking. I watched 'The French Chef' on PBS and bought 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking'. Someone gave me a Fanny Farmer cook book. Between Julia & Fanny, I became a very competent & creative preparer of meals 4 family & friends, had many dinner parties; created holiday feasts; grew to understand wine w/meals and loved every minute of it -all because of Julia. Now my children, both son & daughter, get great pleasure in doing the same.

Thank you, Julia.

[montana_hazeleyes]

60. What a loss!

Even though she was 91 I can't believe she's gone.

Julia. You are so beloved and will be so missed.:cry:

[flamingyouth]

61. She was a friend of my parents' - my Lounge post about her:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=1528768&mesg_id=1529365

[onehandle]

62. Unlike Bill O'Reilly, Julia Child won a Peabody.

"Tonight on O'Reilly: Julia Child Looked FRENCH!"

[thebeaglehaslanded]

64. She became a familiar sight here in Santa Barbara...

whether walking on the street, shopping in the farmers' market, or dining in a local restaurant. She always had time to speak with anyone who approached her, and she always had a smile for everyone.
We will indeed miss her here. But her legacy of cookbooks and television shows will continue, and everyone she touched will remember her warmth, good humor, and sence of joie de vivre. Au revoir, dear friend.

[President Jesus]

65. Julia was a big supporter of Democratic party and Emily's List

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?last=Child&first=Julia

[GoddessOfGuinness]

68. Thanks, Julia...Rest in peas

with scallions and wine...

1 - 2 pounds of shelling peas
2 bunches of spring onions or scallions
1 glass of good white wine
knob of butter

Shell peas. Chop spring onions/scallions including white and green parts.
In a saute pan with a lid melt butter, saute the onions gently until they are getting soft, add peas and wine.
Cover. Simmer for 4 - 8 minutes (less time for smaller, more time for larger).

[Neecy]

69. sad, sad news

Julia not only taught generations of women to cook, but she opened the door for women chefs in a male-dominated profession. A class act and a great American.

Damn.