I have to admit to ‘living under a rock’ sometimes, oblivious to ‘the good, the bad, and the ugly’ of popular culture. Sometimes friends give me a gentle shove in the right direction and I realize belatedly the good things I’ve been missing!
Such was the case when my friend Linda handed me a copy of Julie and Julia the other night. Watching it was pure joy! Meryl Streep brought Julia Child back to life for us and Amy Adams’ portrayal of Julie Powell reminded me of our daughter whose savoring of food has had a similar impact on her life.
Food is so basic to our existence, yet we hunger for it to be satisfying as well as enriching. Julia Child recognized that the cuisine she was enjoying in Paris was a satisfying as well as an enriching feast and she wanted everyone in America to experience their daily sustenance as a feast.
Countering the male bias of the Cordon Bleu, her joyful determination won the day. More of us will identify with Julie’s immersing herself in cooking to escape the stresses of her job. Our kitchens are, afterall, the places where we reign supreme, making decisions about the food we will prepare, and how it will be served. Ultimately, food is more enjoyable when shared, as Julie quickly realizes when her husband leaves. Food lovingly prepared is food lovingly enjoyed as it brings people together.
Our little granddaughter brings smiles to our faces as she delights in her exploration of new foods and in pretending to prepare food. At fifteen months, she was absolutely thrilled to receive a miniature kitchen complete with pots, pans, and utensils. When she visits our kitchen, she wants to see what is being prepared and she wants to taste it. Her earliest memories of being at Grandpa and Grandma’s house are of being in the kitchen. She was a very observant infant as she watched food being prepared both at her house and here. We can’t help wondering where her love of food will take her!
