Julia Child Would Have Been 100

In this Feb. 15, 2002, AP file photo, Julia Childs shows off her recently remodeled kitchen in her Montecito, Calif., home. Child, whose warbling, encouraging voice and able hands brought the intricacies of French cuisine to American home cooks through her television series and books, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2004.

The Eatocracy blog is celebrating Julia Child's 100th birthday by providing little known facts you may not have known.  

• Julia was a research assistant in the Secret Intelligence division of the OSS. While she never spent time in the field, she did have a high security clearance that allowed her to handle top secret documents.
• With the OSS, Julia was stationed in Sri Lanka and China. While she was stationed overseas she met Paul Child, also an OSS officer. He is credited with teaching her to appreciate French cuisine.
• 573 pounds of butter were used on her show “Baking with Julia.”
• Child once attributed her longevity to “red meat and gin.” She died two days shy of her 92nd birthday.

More facts can be read here.

Question (from Christa Hazel): I remember my mother scoff at trying any of Julia's recipes.  She said she didn't have the time or the amount of butter needed to do that stuff.  I would like to make Coq au Vin but mainly just so I can say, “Coq au Vin.”  Have you or your mother ever tried any of Julia's recipes?