Happy Birthday Julia! | BeantownEats {We Eat It. You Read It ...

You may or may not know that I am a very sentimental person, so it didn?t surprise me when I teared up a little bit when I drove by WGBH today on the Pike and saw an enormous picture of the one and only Julia Child on their display.? The goose bumps on my arms got me thinking about why seeing her struck such a chord with me.? Sure, I have the box set of Mastering the Art of French Cooking.? I, like many people, watched Meryl Streep in her fabulous performance in Julie and Julia.? I have high hopes to one day successfully cook Beef Bourguignon.

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But then I realized where my favorite memory of Julia comes from and why it resonates so deep with me: watching her show on a tiny television in my grandmother?s kitchen.? It?s funny to think about this now, since my grandmother wasn?t the worlds greatest cook and even though I never asked her about this, I?m pretty sure she never attempted any of Julia?s recipes, but rather watched her show for the love, passion and humor that Julia seemed to always exude.? My grandmother did excel at cooking Polish food, and some day I?m going to get her golumpki recipe and try to make them myself.? But in the meantime, I will always cherish those afternoons in the kitchen with my grandmother, and I will always have Julia to thank for that.

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On what would have been Julia Child?s 100th birthday, many restaurants in and around Boston are offering special menus to dedicate to the woman who took the stereotype of the male chef and empowered women everywhere to take their skills out of their own kitchens and into the spotlight.

For a complete list, visit BostonChefs.com!

Brasseri Jo: Aug 15-18, $40 per person, add $38 for wine pairing

?First Course

(Choice of one)

Ris de Veau Braises: Braised Sweetbreads with Herbs, Ham, Vermouth

?Chicken Liver Pate

?Coquille St. Jacques a la Proven?ale

?Entrees

(Choice of one)

?Poulet au Porto: Roasted Chicken Basted with Port, Mushrooms

?Sole Dieppoise: Mussels, Shrimp, White Wine Sauce

?Bifteck Saute a la Bordelaise: Sliced Sirloin, Red Wine Sauce, Fondant Potatoes, Haricot Verts

?Desserts

(Choice of one)

?Crepes Suzette

?Floating Island

?Chocolate Mousse

Pear Clafouti

Grill 23: Aug 15-18, $59 per person

Vichyssoise with Russian vodka, chive puree and caviar

100 day aged Ribeye Steak with pommes anna, asparagus and foie gras-juniper butter

Peach Tarte Tatin with sauternes caramel

Harvest: Aug 15-18, $44 per person, add $15 for 1/2 glass or $25 full glass wine pairing

Amuse

Salade Nicoise; Tuna Conserve, Quail Egg, Anchovy, Haricot Verts & Heirloom Potato

First Course

Heirloom Tomato Provencale; Tomato Water, Sea Beans & Fines Herbes

Second Course

Caneton aux Peche; Gratin de Pommes de Terre Crecy & Legumes Braisees

Dessert

Queen of Sheba Cake; House Made Sea Salted Dulche de Leche, Almonds, Mascarpone

Upstairs on the Square: Aug 15-31, other menus available here.

Monday Club Bar Dining Room; Dinner ($33.12)

First Course

(choose one)

Jambon Persille Tartine

Steamers with Beurre de Crustac?s

Cold Cucumber Soup ? Shrimp ? la Grecque

Sparrow Arc Farms Lettuces, Sauce Vinaigrette

Main Course

(choose one)

Bavette Steak; Tomato Proven?al, Shallot & Chenin Blanc Butter

Wild Spearmint Roast Leg of Lamb; Dijon Toasted Buttered Crumbs

Salad Ni?oise; Confit Tuna, Red Norland Potato ? Summer Beans

Lemon Sole ? Lobster Soubise

Goat Cheese Pasta Pyramids; Meyer Lemon Confit, Beet Fondant & Garlic Chips

Dessert

?(choose one)

Walnut Gateau; Peach & Raspberries

Mousseline au Chocolat; Dark Chocolate Mousse with Port Wine Poached Cherries & Chantilly Cream

______________________

Finally, I leave you with some words of wisdom from the woman herself (source).

?The only time to eat diet food is while you?re waiting for the steak to cook.?

?The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you?ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.?

?If you?re afraid of butter, use cream.?

?This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!?

?Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all.?

?It?s so beautifully arranged on the plate ? you know someone?s fingers have been all over it.?

?I think every woman should have a blowtorch.?

?The best way to execute French cooking is to get good and loaded and whack the hell out of a chicken. ?

Happy Birthday, Julia! Bon A Petiet!!

Do you have a favorite Julia Child Memory?

Source: http://beantowneats.com/happy-birthday-julia/

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