GrandPa Elliot - Playing For Change in LA

On Julia Child After Julie & Julia

Meryl Streep whipping up the essence of Julia Child in Julie & Julia proves to be Nora Ephron's best ingredient. Who else but Streep could paint the portrait of Julia Child we hold in our hearts and minds? Only Streep could capture Julia's zest for life with the same fervor she displays Julia's utter sadness at her inability to have children, the most poignant and private moment of the entire film.

I had dinner with Julia Child early one Sunday evening at a restaurant in Marin (a stretch but I count it since a friend of mine and I were having dinner when Julia and friends came in; it may have been on our way back from Copia and Julia's Kitchen).

Not being an avid cook, let alone French cooking, I wondered why Julia was stopping at this restaurant. While local restaurant critics gave it a decent rating, it was not exceptional or even mildly wonderous so it ended up on my "overrated" list. I'd probably have a heart seizure (sans excessive butter usage) if Julia Child had ever entered a restaurant that I owned.