Sharing Travel Experiences

Tour France with Julia Child

by Andy Hayes

One of my favourite books from last year was a little number by Alex Prud’homme about the trials and tribulations of his mother. Titled My Life in France by Julia Child, Alex’s poignant memoir is a wonderful trip down memory lane and would inspire even the worst cooks to pack their backs and head to France. I had a few questions for Alex and he was kind enough to give us a fresh perspective on both Julia and the book:

You spent a few days every month listening to Julia talk about her stories about France. Do you think you could pick just one story that was really inspiring or memorable? The story that, when you hear it, you knew why it was so important to write this book.

Having known Julia my entire life, I had heard many of her memorable stories, but the one that is most inspiring to me is the opening scene of the book: Julia and Paul arriving in France in 1948, aboard SS America, she feeling nervous and self-conscious, he eagerly pressing ahead. As they drive to Paris they stop for lunch in Rouen, and Julia has her first real French meal — Sole Meuniere — which she described as “an epiphany,” the “the most exciting meal of my life.” Not only do the French treat her with kindness and respect, they seem genuinely devoted to making this lunch a special occasion for her; and, of course, the ingredients, flavors and care the chef took with the meal eclipsed anything she’d ever experienced before. That lunch changed Julia and, arguably, the USA. I knew this was a story that people would want to hear.

My Life in France by Julia Child is full of great life lessons and travel lessons. What’s the best lesson Julia taught you about “little old France”?

The value of what she called “les human relations” — ie, to take the time and care to do things well, to try new things, learn from your mistakes, and above all to have fun. She was always pushing people to learn to cook, or try new recipes, and to do it as a group. this is a lesson that can be applied to any walk of life, not just cooking. In shopping “the French way” she learned to talk to vendors and build up human connections first, and only then to purchase her meat or veg based on the vendors’ recommendations — rather than simply passing a plastic-wrapped piece of food through a scanner and getting out the door as fast as she could. The French taught Julia, and she taught me, the value of communication.

You have had quite an interesting life before writing this book – a fisherman in Australia, a teacher of English in Japan, then becoming a janitor in Paris. How did these experiences prepare you to write this book – and why didn’t you become a chef, instead of a janitor?

I had those experiences during a post-college trip around the world: I was keeping a diary, and writing every day, and when I finally got home (almost two years later) I realized that I loved to write. That trip was life-changing for me in many ways: it opened my eyes to the world in much the way that WWII and the post-war years in Europe opened Julia’s eyes. So when she told me about her adventures in Ceylon, China, France, Norway, Germany, etc I was able to empathise with her and bring a bit of my own life experience to the telling of those stories. I didn’t become a chef in France because: 1) those jobs are hard to come by in Paris; 2) I wasn’t qualified (I am an enthusiastic amateur cook, and have always had a healthy appetite; but at the time I was fairly hopeless in the kitchen).

For some of our readers who might be thinking about moving to France, or at least a long visit to learn some gastronomic techniques, what advice would Julia give them (besides picking up a copy of My Life in France by Julia Child!)?

Well, the basic advice is to go to France, travel to as many places there as you can, and eat as many meals in as many different kinds of establishments as you can. If you are serious about learning technique, then sign up for a cooking school, as Julia did at Le Cordon Bleu. There are several (sadly, La Varenne, operated by Julia’s friend Anne Willan, has left Burgundy for Southern CA). Perhaps best of all (promotion alert!) is to spend a few days at La Pitchoune, Julia and Paul’s former house outside of Cannes, in the south of France, where chef Kathie Alex leads a wonderful series of classes that take advantage of whatever is fresh in the marketplace. Based on personal experience, I highly recommend it. For info: http://www.cookingwithfriends.com/

Merci Alex and Bon Appetit to your future! I really feel how Julia feels about “les human relations” in “little old France” and that’s what makes this book so charming.

Click below to pick up your copy of My Life in France by Julia Child today!

Does "My Life in France by Julia Child" sound like a travel dream come true?

What are you waiting for? Travel more with our special travel deals, such as:

Or, get hands-on travel help from Donna, our travel concierge.