Tip Jar

 

Check in here regularly for tips from Vitamin M.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

This weekend I took my friend Rachel to see Julia Child’s Kitchen at the Smithsonian.  Chef Child’s kitchen is my most favorite spot to take out of town guests when they visit me in Washington, D.C.  Her kitchen complete with nearly every pot, pan, and cooking tool also includes a display of a history of Julia’s life including personal photos, cookbooks she authored, and her most famous and hard to find clips from her cooking show.   My favorite part of the exhibit is the wisdom she leaves you with before you exit- “The thing about food is you’re a much happier person if you eat well and treasure your meals.“  This is advice we should all take to heart.  Check out the details below and take it from me it’s a must see next time you are in town!

Julia Child shared the passions, philosophies, and products of this kitchen in her home, with family, friends, colleagues, and fans for 45 years. Now she is sharing the kitchen itself with millions, having donated it to the National Museum of American History in 2001.

Julia Child's Kitchen photo by Vitamin M

When Paul and Julia moved into their home, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1961, they knew there was work to be done with the kitchen. After adapting to the quirks and limitations of various kitchens, Julia knew how she waned to organize her ninth kitchen. While she mapped out the functional principles, Paul brought his sense of design to arranging the kitchen’s elements.

• The kitchen measures 14x 20.
• The blue and green color scheme was chosen by Paul Child in 1961.
• Poles mounted on the ceiling held TV lights during the taping of cooking shows in the 1990s.
• A plastic-covered Marimekko print tablecloth protects the wood of the kitchen table.
• The maple countertops were built two inches higher than in most kitchens to suit Julia’s six-foot, two-inch height.
• Two 25-pound turkeys fit inside this oven.
• No fancy curtains, just simple blinds opened to a view of Irving Street treetops.
• The icemaker in the corner kept Julia and her guest chefs supplied with all the ice they needed to keep food fresh during taping sessions.
• Julia liked cats in her kitchen… on the fridge, in fields of asparagus, and next to pots.
• Julia’s kitchen junk drawer held lots of surprises.
• Julia’s to-do list was on the kitchen counter next to the telephone.
• Sixteen baking sheets were stored vertically in slots next to the dishwasher.

• Julia stored spices, tea, instant coffee, and syrups in this cabinet.
• Oils and vinegars were kept close to the stove.
• This door led to the pastry pantry where Julia stored baking equipment and supplies.
• Julia’s lorgnette was always within reach for reading fine print.
• Julia stored odds and ends of equipment, including her blow torches, in a pantry beside this wall.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

This weekend I had the chance to check out culinary themed film Today’s Special.  Check out the review here and make it a must see at an indie theater near you.