COOKING CLASS

As a rule I never ever bring home work. To relax after a long tiring day in the office I throw my cares away and become a potato chip junkie, sit in (or on )the lazy boy, pop in a dvd, and master the art of becoming a couch potato. I can barely move or budge when I am in this zombie state…. I like to watch chick flicks, epic films, and romantic comedies. I hate horror movies. I have memorized the lines and could watch the “American President”, “Notting Hill”, and “Pretty Woman” over and over again. When it comes to culinary related or inspired movies here are my favorites:

1. Danish film “Babette’s Feast” - this is a real classic that foodies MUST watch
2. German film “Mostly Martha” ( I don’t think the American version “No Reservations” did the original film justice)
3. Ratatouille - this cartoon I recommend to young aspiring chefs to learn more about the kitchen basics
4. The Freshman - A funny film staring Mathew Broderick and Marlon Brando on offering exotic and endangered animals on the menu
5. Chocolat - loved its location in Burgundy France
6. Tortilla soup - American re-make of Ang Lee’s Taiwanese film “Eat Drink Man Woman”
7. Kailangan Kita - Aga Muhlach and Claudine Barretto’s movie on Bicolano Cuisine

I finally got to see the movie “Julie and Julia” last night. Unfortunately it is not in my list of favorites and must watch culinary films. To learn more about the culinary icon I would recommend Food Network’s tribute to 90 year old Julia Child with Wolfgang Puck. I wish they had edited out all the other dragging insignificant parts and simply focused the plot on Merly Streep who saved the film by playing Julia. So I will talk only about the half of the movie that I liked.  It was really funny how they made Meryl appear as tall, as clumsy, and as messy as the real life Julia. I found amusing Julia’s competitiveness as she chopped a huge pile of onions to improve her knife skills in a male dominated kitchen. I could also relate to the happiness in her face when she received a copy of the book Larousse Gastronomique. So those were my favorite parts of the movie…if only we could watch half a movie.

Julia Child’s significance for me is how at a quite late stage in her life, she was able to influence her passion and love for food to the American nation and eventually the whole world .  In 2008 I was able to go to the COPIA (The American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts) located in Napa Valley California. Julia Child was an honorary trustee and they housed the restaurant “Julia’s Kitchen”  and an herb garden in her honor. I had the chance of visiting the facility and dining there before they sadly closed in 2009 because of  the economic recession. 

Julia’s copper pots and pans when it was on display at the COPIA in Napa Valley

Restaurant in honor of Julia Child

Wine tasting at COPIA Napa