Bon Appétit: Inside Julia Child's Kitchen

Before my recent trip to Washington, D.C., I began planning what sights I wanted to see. Besides the obvious landmarks and cherry blossoms, I wasn't sure what museums the city had to offer. And then it hit me- Julia Child's kitchen is in D.C.! I immediately started jumping up and down and telling anyone who would listen. I would be seeing my gastronomic idol's workspace- the place where Julie Powell made her pilgrimage after working her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking in Julie and Julia and left her offering of butter.

Julia's kitchen from her Cambridge, Massachusetts home- along with plenty of pots, pans and kitchen gadgets- were donated by Mrs. Child herself upon her move to California in 2001. The exhibit also features footage from her cooking show The French Chef, and other great memorabilia.

It is pretty amazing to think that this is where that firecracker of a woman once stood. On her butcher block counter tops, built to her height, you can even see rings in the wood where maybe she set down a cup of tea.

Looking through the exhibit, you couldn't help but notice that Julia was a cat person! Throughout her kitchen, cats showed up in paintings, cartoons and magnets. 

I was amazed by how utilitarian her kitchen was. There is no doubt that at this point in her life she could have had whatever fancy finishings she wanted but instead she has very simple blinds on her windows, practical kitchen counters, and pegboard walls to organize all of her goodies.

Here is a drawing of the layout of her kitchen. It included a food pantry, a butler's pantry and even a pantry dedicated to pastry. I can just imagine what great ingredients she kept there.

Julie Child loved her kitchen gadgets! Thankfully the exhibit labeled each one- many I did not recognize and would not know what to do with. Have you ever needed a bone holder? Julie obviously did, she had several!

Here is her enormous mortar and pestle. I wonder what great things she has pulverized inside of it!

Anyone who has read Julia Child's My Life in France or has seen Julie and Julia will recognize some of the great memorabilia in the exhibit. Displayed was her patch from L'Ecole des Trois Gourmondes (The School of the Three Happy Eaters) that she started in Paris with her Mastering the Art cowriters and her diploma from Le Cordon Bleu.

I learned some interesting tidbits about Julia through the exhibit. Having lived in France, Julia and her husband Paul enjoyed having a glass of wine to complement their meal as was typical in the country. At the time she went on TV with The French Chef, American society was unaccustomed to seeing public figures drinking. By enjoying a glass of wine during her cooking lessons, Julia helped make Americans comfortable with drinking with their dinner ₍₁₎ .  I think she deserves a round of applause!

Here is the Child's listing of the contents of their wine cellar:

If you ever have an opportunity to visit her kitchen- do it! You will be inspired! If you can't get there soon enough, you can visit the online exhibit: Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian



1- http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/juliachild/flash_home.asp

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Red Hook Lobster Pound: Where DC Gets Its Lobster Rolls

Popping into the airport newsstand on my way to Washington, D.C., I debated whether or not to pick up the latest issue of Bon Appetit magazine. In the end, I decided it was a good way to spend my $5- and I am sure glad that I did.

Settled into my window seat, I pull out my crisp, new read and start flipping through the pages until something stoped me. The most beautiful of lobster rolls- a food I had yet to try. Looking closer at the photo's caption, I saw that this beautiful creation belonged to none other than Red Hook Lobster Pound food truck in Washington D.C.

This was obviously an act of God. Once we deplaned for our connecting flight I immediately started looking up this great food find to see how to get my hands on one.

Begun in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, the hubby and wife business owners drive to Maine weekly to bring their customers the freshest Maine lobsters and the tasty JJ Nissen buns in which they serve their catch. That is dedication you can taste!

To get your hands on one of these tasty rolls, you first have to find the truck. It helps to have your smartphone on you- Red Hook shares their latest pit stop on their Twitter account!

After getting some culture in at the American History Museum my first day in town, I decided I couldn't wait anymore- I had to have a lobster roll now! I whipped out my phone to see where the latest stop was. Alas! Precious lobster rolls stood only a mile away! The walk would be a breeze!

Or so I thought. Making our way past the Capital Building and the Washington Monument we noticed some storm clouds rolling in, but we kept on walking. And then it started to sprinkle just a little. And then... ouch! Yep, it hailed on us.

Nothing was going to come between me and my lobster roll- after all it was fate that I have one! We forged on- wet, cold and with a few dings here and there. Finally, as the sun was starting to peek from behind the clouds we found what we had been searching for.

You would think that the weather would deter customers but in fact there was a long line of equally damp patrons waiting for their piece of Maine. That means it's gonna be good.

The truck offered your traditional lobster roll Maine-style (with mayo) or Connecticut-style (with warm butter) as well as shrimp rolls, clam chowder, and whoopie pies. They also dispensed Maine Root soda from the side of the truck with flavors such as orange creme, sasparilla, and root beer. If you find it in your local Whole Foods- buy some! This all natural, handcrafted soda is really something special!

Now to the Maine event, if you will:

Big chunks of sweet lobster- including claw meat- tossed lightly in mayo, seasoned ever so slightly and complimented by a perfectly toasty, buttery bun. I practically died. If they weren't $15 I would have had another!

This was well worth taking an ice pellet to the head.

In D.C. anytime soon? Whatever you do, don't leave without tracking down this food truck. Who knows, you might even see some historic monuments in the process!

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Travel Lust: Savannah, Georgia

There is something absolutely enchanting about the South. Whether it's the buttery accent, the good food or purely the Southern charm, it is some place I have dreamed of exploring and Savannah, Georgia would have to be one of my stops.

 A short distance from the Atlantic coast, Savannah sits upon a river bearing the same name.

The city is brimming with charming squares in which to sit and soak up the Southern sun- there are over 20 in the Historic District.

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I would love to see the ancient live oak trees draped in Spanish moss- how picturesque!

 The homes here are so charming, they almost rot your teeth. I imagine you could find some very charming bed and breakfasts in which to stay.

A short distance from the city center is Tybee Island- can you imagine the wonderful seafood you could get here?

Of course I couldn't visit Savannah without heading to Paula Deen's restaurant, The Lady and Sons. And I can only imagine the plethora of amazing Southern eateries that I don't know about!

 Savannah is a must do for me- have you been? Is it at charming as it looks?


Photos from: indiranac.looingforwhitman.org, igougo.com, remote-galaxy.com, iaes.com, rv-raodtrips.thefuntimesguide.com, homeaway.com, savannahvisit.com

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Spiceology: Where Tulsa Gets Its Spice On

Looking for an exotic spice to add to your collection or a hard to find herb to complete a recipe? Head to Spiceology in Tulsa's Farm Shopping Center at 51st and Sheridan!

Opened at the beginning of the year, the owners of this specialty store get their herbs, spices, and seasonings straight from their sources and bottle them in the shop.

From more familiar seasonings such as anise and oregano to exotic spices that send me clamoring for Google- Ethiopian Berbere and ras el hanout- this shop has a little something for everyone with new items in frequently. Along with providing quality ingredients, the store produces its own custom blends with catchy names, such as My Big Fat Greek Seasoning and Mambo Italiano. You can also pick up a prepackaged spice box with an assortment of seasonings that play on a particular cuisine- makes a great gift!

Catching my eye was their array of flavored sea salts- rose, alderwood smoked, chipotle, and balsamic. I wonder what great things you could do with those? Maybe freshly cracked atop creamy ricotta spread on a slice of toasted French bread to really showcase their flavor!

I visited this store in search of a particular seasoning- cardamom, commonly used in Indian cuisine. I easily found what I needed but I wasn't quite sure how much I would need for my recipe (you'll hear about that later!). Expressing my concern to the shop owner, she quickly looked up a similar recipe so that I could ensure I had enough for my dish. Now that's service! The greatest part about my purchase- it was a fraction of the cost of buying it at Whole Foods!

Spiceology really has something great going on- fresh, unique products at fair prices. Since my trip into the store, Amanda Gettys, the store's Executive Manager, has informed me that they have added great seasoning accessories to their offerings such as mortar and pestles, shakers and grinders. Sadly, food samples are not an option for them right now- probably a good thing or else I might eat through all their stock! Can't wait to see what else is to come for this great little shop!

To get more information on Spiceology, you can visit their Twitter or Facebook pages! Show some love and follow them!

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Travel Lust: Rome

This week's Travel Lust is not about a place I wish to go but a place to which I wish I could go back: Rome, Italy. I am so thankful I was able to spend a semester there in college and have some of the most amazing experiences. Rome is a magical city. Enjoy some of my photos I took when I was there!

There is always something ancient lurking around every corner in Rome, like Largo Argentina. Ancient temples make a surprising appearance at the middle of this busy thoroughfare. This also happens to be where stray cats are kept- we called it the Cat Sanctuary!

The Pantheon is one of my favorite monuments in Rome. And down a nearby cobbled street you will find the best espresso granita on the planet.

Staring up at the oculus, you cannot help but be in awe of the building's perfection. And to think they accomplished that without our modern technologies!

Another Roman favorite: the Trevi Fountain. Brings to mind scenes from Roman Holiday and The Lizzie McGuire Movie La Dolce Vita.

From the Colosseum, you can walk straight into the Roman Forum.

I used to know what most of the ruins in this picture are, but it has been a long time since Art History!

Let's not forget the iconic Spanish Steps. Grab a refreshing drink from the fountain at its base and then stroll down the street ahead and window shop at fancy designer stores.

When you need a break from the big city, head to the Borghese Gardens and take a row boat out on the pond. A perfect get away.

Of course, a trip to Rome wouldn't be complete without plenty of espresso, pasta, panini, and gelato!

Have you spent time in Rome? Do you dream of some day visiting?

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