Flutterby™! : Obits

Obits

2004-08-13 16:03:24.278621+00 by Dan Lyke 9 comments

Rough week: Rick James, Fay Wray whom most of us probably wouldn't have heard of if not for the pool scene in Rocky Horror Picture Show, and now Julia Child.

While the first two had long disappeared into history, Julia kept turning out new work with that same deadpan approach and a quirky hint of a smile that never quite made it clear if she was making fun of herself or not. In any case, in her later years when she worked mainly as a foil for other chefs she did an admirable job of asking the questions we'd want to ask, but would feel stupid for. She will be missed.

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-13 18:31:35.042014+00 by: Diane Reese

Yes, Julia will be missed. I also appreciated that she wasn't afraid to make a mess in the kitchen: a woman after my own heart and practice!

Bon appetit!

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-13 18:56:23.067516+00 by: Dan Lyke

The oft-repeated quote, allegedly after she dropped something on camera, theb picked it up and tossed it back in the dish: "When you're in your own kitchen, you can do anything you want."

Yep, Julia was that amazing mix of extremely competent, and yet as bumbling as we all are.

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-13 23:01:19.534467+00 by: mvandewettering

It's hard to judge just how important a contribution that Julia made to the culinary sensibilities of a generation of Americans. The landscape for traditional home cooking in the fifties was, quite simply, atrocious, full of meatloaf, gelatin molds and vegetables that were boiled for 45 minutes or longer. Yuck. Just review Lilek's "Gallery of Regrettable Food", either online or in print.

We'll miss you Julia.

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-14 00:53:50.985443+00 by: meuon

Aaack! I had to look didn't I. Yuck. For some reason, the ' Flapjacks with Chopped Spam topped with Cottage Cheese and Karo Syrup' caused me to completely gross out.

It may be days before I'm hungry again. [shudder]

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-14 20:33:39.567732+00 by: Shawn

Julia Child had a TV program? I knew she was associated with cooking, but that's the limit of my exposure to her.

And hey, some of us like meatloaf and soft vegetables. (Jello molds are okay, as long as they have fruit in them.)

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-14 21:48:58.91218+00 by: petronius

I remember a few years ago watching with horrified fascination Martha Stewart's Christmas special. She was making alongside Julia Childs a French confection that consisted of a number of golfball sized puff pastries piled into a pyramid, glued together with frosting. Julia's was very tempting looking, and a little off balance, as you might expect from a handmade creation. Martha's, on the other hand, was a straight as a bridge support, and looked like she had bulit it with a surveyor's transit and a GPS module. I would have been afraid to pick off a bit of Martha's, while Julia's invited eating. The true mark of a great cook, rather than a supreme technician.

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-15 16:35:58.476116+00 by: meuon

When watching great cooks, their seems to be a 'karmic flow' to their creations, they don't stress about many details, the culinary and cosmetic touches seem to be 'go with the flow'.. and art happens. The few times I watched Julia, I liked her, but that voice makes me cringe. I've caught a few 'Cooking in Brooklyn' shows, and really like the guys style: Cooking lunch for a contruction crew on site, he stuffs huge loaves of french bread with goodies, wraps in in tin foil, and gets a welder to 'torch' it..

#Comment Re: made: 2004-08-20 00:07:56.733146+00 by: ghasty

I actually met Julia once...talked for 5-10 minutes and got a cookbook signed. Very pleasent lady

#Comment At least Julia Child... made: 2004-08-23 22:43:53.685679+00 by: baylink

didn't go apeshit.