By Pamela Heyne
Author of In Julia's Kitchen: Practical and Convivial Kitchen Design Inspired by Julia Child; Jim Scherer, coauthor.
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I recently revisited the Julia Child book
because I felt that we — Americans — could use some of her unique inspiration
today. In the last twenty-five years our American kitchens have become ever
more open, which is not always compatible with serious cooks. Meals are often eaten on barstools or in
front of the TV, and open kitchens also inevitably encourage snacking, which contributes
to our national obesity epidemic…and some designs are so abstract they barely
register as kitchens. “Julia hated those
kitchens — a kitchen is a place to do things!”
according to her longtime friend Pat Pratt.
Julia’s Cambridge kitchen, which is now
a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution, was both comfortable
for cooking and welcoming to friends. Guests generally ate at the wooden kitchen
table, which was usually covered with yellow oilcloth. Jim Scherer, who collaborated
with Julia for nearly thirty years, often ate at that table; in the book he
shares his charming culinary memories. Also, the photographs Jim took of
Julia’s kitchen in 1989 show what it was like as a true working space, what was
on her counter, and even what books she was reading. And his photographs
backstage at the TV show “Julia Child & Company” demonstrate her sense of
conviviality even there, as she often ate with staff after the show. Julia’s French vacation home La Pitchoune
also gets attention. The small stucco house, nestled in hills near Nice, has a diminuitive,
but very practical, kitchen with implements mounted on pegboard and a butcher
block counter. Meals there were often taken on the flower-rimmed patio. (Under new ownership, it is a vacation and cooking destination.)
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One of my favorite “simpatico” kitchens is owned by Claudine
Pepin (Jacques Pepin’s daughter) and her husband, Rollie Wesen, a professional
chef. The kitchen is practical with
compact counter space and equipment hung on rustic walls. Their dining table,
an heirloom from Claudine’s family, is just steps away in the dining room,
where most of the family’s meals are taken.
Some of our most memorable occasions often occur around a dining table. I enjoy
entertaining, and on the home front have
always emphasized the family meal. In 2002 my husband Carl Widell and I adopted
two Russian sisters, age 7 and 9. We always sat down to meals, sometimes in the
family room, sometimes in the dining room. Now the sisters are successful young
women. Both are excellent cooks and
advocates for the family meal.
Sometimes I set the dining table with
mirrored placemats and candles — a festive look. Some might wonder how I can be interested in
mirrors and Julia Child. My answer: they
both add sparkle to our lives.
As the development and technology improves, more and more people are opting for modern home renovation designs than antique designs in their home. If you are browsing around the internet or home decor books, you will realize that modern kitchen cabinets can make your kitchen look bigger at the fraction of the price.
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Your work inspired me and I will apply your ideas at my own kitchen
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