Photograph by Sarah McCosham
We didn’t have cable growing up, so my viewing options were limited to about 10 channels (or less, if our rabbit ears were being persnickety). As a result I watched a lot of PBS, including The French Chef and Baking with Julia.
This was my first exposure to cooking—my parents weren’t keen on letting kids in the kitchen—and I loved watching Julia whip and whirl through the kitchen, narrating with such vim and vigor. Julia Child was an unlikely icon; a hearty, vivacious American woman mastering the art of French cuisine in front of a TV audience, inviting viewers to follow along and empowering home chefs to try their hands at beef bourguignon or quiche Lorraine.
Julia’s joie de vivre inspired me to get into the kitchen when my parents were at work, and while I’ve been a vegetarian since the age of 13, I credit Julia Child for instilling my love of cooking and can-do attitude with trying new recipes.
I know I’m not alone in my adoration of Julia Child; she’s inspired books and movies and many, many chefs—and, most recently, an entire exhibition at the Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) that of course I had to experience with my kids.
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life opened February 1 at the CMC and celebrates the life and legacy of the unassuming chef. Created and toured by Flying Fish, the exhibit is an immersive experience and an homage to Ms. Child, the chef who many credit for making America fall in love with cooking, especially French cooking. (Would there be a Maisonette without Julia?)
Photograph by Sarah McCosham
As with all CMC exhibits, what’s so great about Julia Child: A Recipe for Life is how hands-on it is. There are lots of opportunities for meaningful interaction; for my kids, the highlight was getting to step onto the set of The French Chef, complete with a vintage video camera.
I found myself enchanted by the memorabilia: the kitchen tools and retro appliances, Paul Child’s photography (theirs is a relationship for the ages) and the bathtub setup wherein visitors can recreate Julia and Paul’s iconic Valentine’s Day cards. This exhibit is nostalgic and heartwarming and inspiring, just like Julia.
Photograph by Sarah McCosham
My kids tell me I should open a restaurant because my cooking is, frankly, awesome. I say this with a confidence that comes from years and years of experience and an education that started on a brown BarcaLounger in the ’80s as I watched, rapt, as Julia Child taught me that mistakes were part of cooking and that anything was possible in the kitchen, you just have to have the courage of your convictions.
Julia Child: A Recipe for Life runs through May 18, 2025, at the Cincinnati Museum Center (1301 Western Ave., Queensgate), and admission is free for CMC members.
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