Friday, August 3, 2012
Know Who Julia Child Is?
Today I’m joining the millions of people celebrating Julia Child’s 100th birthday this month. If you’re not a food geek like me and some of my readers and/or don’t live in the US, you might not know that Julia Child is one of America’s beloved – and first – food television stars. She brought French cooking to the masses through her cooking show The French Chef, which aired on PBS in 1963. She would have been 100 years old on August 15, 2012, and the network is celebrating the occasion by replaying her shows and, yes, even a video mash-up. It’s perfect for foodies who rock (and, er, rockers who love food, I suppose).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e86VfUKTU9U
Postscript: Food (TV) in a Post-Modern World
I actually met Julia Child a decade or so ago at the Harvard School of Public Health Nutrition Roundtable, a group that meets in Boston to support the department’s work. This is the same set of individuals that hosted the Healthy Cup award for Jamie Oliver back in May, by the way. (More about that here, including another cool video about some of the research that happens at the school and the story of where Jamie now somewhat famously stated that “soda needs a good spank.”) Anyway, my point is that it makes me sigh thinking that it’s been more than 5 years since wanting to pursue this next stage of my career focused on my passion and desire to translate research beyond the university through nutrition communication. I’ve finally gotten my writing happening (phase 1) and tremendously enjoy writing on my blog – and thank you all so much for reading!!!! Now, Julia’s upcoming birthday is just the kick in the pants I need to reach out to television producers RFN ASAP.
The simple fact is that a lot has changed in the century since Julia’s birth and the world needs to approach food, nutrition, and cooking in a new way. Indeed, it’s an absolutely necessity if we are to save ourselves from dying early deaths from chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes, our children from living a shorter life than the current generation has enjoyed due to the rise of childhood obesity, and our planet from the ravages of producing often unhealthy food in unsustainable ways.
Do you agree?
Now, of course such a show must be wildly entertaining and filled with actual scientific knowledge presented in an accessible way that translates to fabulous food that people want to eat. But if it were the right food, hosted by the right person…
Sound like someone you know?
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PS. I am chagrined to admit that t wasn’t until about 5 minutes after reading the article on NPRs food blog that I said to myself “Oh… sweet CHILD of mine … Right, I get it.” I mean, it was before I watched the video and all, but still.
