While meandering Borders bookstore this week, I found myself browsing the front tables where the trendy and “very now” reads are displayed, when I saw something familiar. It was Mastering the Art of French Cooking, by Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle. It is a book that has most likely not been coined as trendy since it was first published in 1961.
The new hit movie, Julie and Julia appears to have spurred a newfound interest in not only French cuisine but the culinary arts as a whole. Based on two true tales, the movie follows Julie Powell, played by Amy Adams, as an endearing, yet lost, young wife who begins to blog about her experiences cooking through Julia Child’s cookbook. Simultaneously, Meryl Streep gives an adoring portrayal of Julia Child and her cooking efforts in Paris and her journey to becoming a household name.
Perhaps it is fairer to say that the movie didn’t rekindle an interest but rather tapped into a passion that was already alive in our society. Culinary arts have always been a mainstream interest of pop culture. Society as a whole has a natural interest in chefs and the food industry, and it is not just for those with a talent for cooking. I will sit glued to the Food Network for hours, watching someone talk me through how they chop up vegetables and broil pork chops knowing that I am still going to eat cereal for dinner.
Why the fascination? Perhaps it is not the cooking but rather what the cooking represents. Food is an essential part of our lives. It serves as the centerpiece for social gatherings with friends and family. The preparation is just part of the experience. Perhaps we watch these shows and read these books not necessarily because we’re dying to know how to broil pork chops, but rather we’re yearning for the experience of preparing a meal. Whether you are baking cookies with your daughter, preparing something for your family’s dinner table, or testing your skills in the kitchen solo, you are learning something new about yourself creating something you are proud of for all to enjoy.
Julia Child once said, “It’s fun to get together and have something good to eat at least once a day. That’s what human life is all about – enjoying things.” She was personable, confident, and a joy to watch with a brilliant story. Through this movie, America was reminded why it is that we love food.
Marion Herbert, SWG Inside Blogger
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