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And the Julie & Julia DVD goes to… HoneyB! Congratulations, HoneyB! Thanks to everyone for participating in the giveaway, thanks to Sony Pictures for making the giveaway possible, and last but certainly not least, thanks to Julia Child for enriching and inspiring the culinary world. Bon Appetite!
Link to Julia Child’s Leek and Potato Soup recipe.
CELEBRITY CHEF VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE
Jacques Pépin’s voice coming out of my telephone was truly insane! As part of the Julie & Julia DVD launch, Sony Pictures invited Average Betty to a virtual roundtable (that’s fancy talk for telephone conference call) moderated by Susan Spungen and featuring chefs Jacques Pépin, Nancy Silverton and Suzanne Goin. The topic, of course: Julia Child and the feature film, Julie & Julia.
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The legendary Chef Pépin began with a recollection of meeting Julia in 1960 and feeling as though she was his “surrogate mother.” Chef Pépin also recounted how Julia asked him to look over her draft of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and how he told her that it was “pretty good.” Pretty good, indeed. |
Nancy Silverton of LaBrea Bakery fame recalled her first memories of Chef Julia being at age 8 or 9. It was not a face-to-face meeting; rather, it was the “joy on her mother’s face” upon successful creation of Julia’s Roasted Chicken in their home. Silverton described the way her mother “felt good about herself” for following Julia’s recipe and serving the “best chicken she ever made.” Silverton candidly admitted that she was “expecting to hate [the movie] but left loving it.” | ![]() |
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Suzanne Goin testified that Julia Child saved her parents’ marriage! Goin told the story of her father giving her mother Mastering the Art of French Cooking as a gift. Apparently, Goin’s mother was a terrible cook, and in fact was from a lineage of “terrible cooks.” And for Goin, now a successful chef and restaurateur, she “thanks God” for Julia because “you are inspired by the food you eat as a kid,” and adds “my Mother’s cooking was Julia’s cooking.” |
Susan Spungen, cookbook author and Food Stylist for Julie & Julia, prepared virtually every recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking for the movie. Spungen brought the discussion full-circle with her descriptions of the incredible skill Meryl Streep displayed in portraying Julia Child. Always in character while on the set, Spungen recalls how she would call Meryl “Julia” throughout the filming. The entire panel agreed that Meryl Streep truly became the vivacious, life-of-the-party Julia Child. | ![]() |
The photo above of Jacques Pépin and Top Chef Hosea Rosenberg was taken at the 2009 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen Breakfast of Champions themed Quickfire Challenge. Team Pépin-Rosenberg scored the win over Chef Ming Tsai and Top Chef Stephanie Izard in a hilarious and entertaining competition. No doubt Julia was virtually rooting for her good friend, Jacques.
SOUP’S ON!
![]() Leek and Potato Soup |
![]() Butternut Squash Soup |
![]() Tortilla Soup |
![]() Creamy Spinach Soup |
![]() Creamy Tomato Soup |
![]() Black Bean Soup |
VOTE FOR AVERAGE BETTY IN THE TASTY AWARDS!
Have you heard the news? Average Betty is nominated for two Tasty Awards: Best Food Program on the Web, and Best Home Chef in a Series. Please help support Average Betty and vote! Just go to tastyawards.com, click on the Awards tab, scroll down to Viewers Choice Award Nominees, and click on any “Vote Here” link. Vote for Average Betty in #11: Best Home Chef in a Series. Voting ends January 5, 2010.
Yee Haww! :o) :o) I’m so excited. I can watch this when Grumpy is not aroud! Thanks Betty & Thanks to Sony Pictures!
Congratulations to the winner! I watched it last night and loved it!!
Bummed I missed the contest. Never saw the flick in the theater. Gotta get it on the Flix. Too cool you talked to all those chefs. Do they know you are our celebrity?
Congrats HoneyB! :)) I’m happy because I also like your blog. Well done and thanks Betty for your reply!
Muaks
Lala
Congratulations to Shelby!! and to you for this excellent giveaway too :)
All the best,
Gera
Congratulations, HoneyB! Kick Grumpy out of the house and invite your girlfriends over for a Beef Bourguignon party (that’ll make Grumpy wish he was there!)
Sarah, I am so glad you saw it! I can’t wait!
Oh Ben, you always know just what to say to put a smile on my face <3
@lalauncensored How cool you read HoneyB’s blog too! She a sweetie!
Hey Gera! Thank you! And thanks for always posting links to my giveaways on your blog! You rock :)
Love y’all!
Betty
Congrats Honeyb !!!! Enjoy the movie, over and over agian!!!!
Betty, thanks for the blog!! I really enjoy reading it! you always put a big fat smile on the face!! :)
Lisa, you rock! Thanks for being such a sweetheart :) xoxo