I know, I know- after all of the hype that last year’s (sort-of) biopic Julie & Julia caused, I am far from original in my love for this fantastic, fearless woman. Still, I just have to express how much I admire her. Aside from her amazing cooking abilities, she was an independent and well-traveled woman who, according to all reliable accounts, had a fantastic marriage to a wonderful man. She radiated class, was known for her beautiful home (though some credit for that must go to Paul Child, artist/photographer/diplomat extraordinaire), and seemed to have absolutely nothing that could hold her back.

One of my favorite things about Julia Child is that she supposedly didn’t really even learn to cook until she was a newlywed, at 34 years old. Imagine! Our world’s most reputable culinary expert lived out her entire young life without ever delving into what became her expertise and legacy. She also didn’t meet her husband until she was 30 years old, and had resigned herself to being a “spinster”- although I don’t know many old maids who were reportedly spies- and ended up having an extremely happy and celebrated marriage.

It centers me a little bit to know that she lived out such an adventurous and somewhat lonesome youth and still had time to become everything that she was.

Other fantastic things about her that I would love to emulate: living in Cambridge, living in France, having a pegboard kitchen (sigh), and going to culinary school, even if I don’t want to go into the restaurant industry!