Julia Child in Paris
Want to follow in the footsteps of the famous American French Chef Julia Child? Well, when you spend a lot of time in Paris you will undoubtably visit many of the places that Julia also frequented during her life in Paris.
Julia Child has been described as America's French chef and is famous for her cooking, her books and as host of her acclaimed television show, The French Chef. Let's go find Julia Child's Paris together.
“A party without cake is just a meeting.” - Julia Child
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Les Deux Magots
Julia Child moved to Paris with her husband, Paul Child, when his foreign service job took him to the French capital and from her very first Saturday in Paris, when she and Paul enjoyed a typical French breakfast, (café complet) of coffee and croissants at the famous Les Deux Magots cafe, she went on to explore the complex world of French cuisine.
Useful Information
Address: Les Deux Magots, 6 Place Saint-Germain des Prés, 75006, Paris
Closest métro station: Saint-Germain des Prés (Line 4)
Shakespeare and Company
As Julia became more familiar with Paris and visited the fresh food and flower markets, cafes and bookstores, she found herself regularly at the English bookstore Shakespeare and Company searching for books on French cooking. In time she became inspired with the idea of writing her own books on how to cook French food for Americans.
Shakespeare and Company is located near Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris along the Seine and welcomes book lovers, authors and cafe patrons into its cute cafe. The store has recently expanded into another room at the back of the store and also expanded its children's book section. Attracting more and more visitors over the years, you now have to wait in a line overseen by security guards before you are allowed to enter - but the wait is worth it.
Useful information
Address: Shakespeare and Company, 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris
Closest métro station: Saint-Michel Notre-Dame (Line 4)
E.Dehillerin
Starting her culinary journey by enrolling in Paris' famed cooking school Le Cordon Bleu, Julia spent many hours perfecting the recipes taught in school at home. Purchasing the essential cookware while a student at the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school was easy enough with many stores stocking essential items.
One store that Julia loved, and that still stocks everything you could possibly need, including a huge range of copper pots and pans is E. Dehillerin, which has been supplying Parisians with kitchenware since 1820. Feeling like a kid in a candy store, I barely knew where to look the first time I visited E. Dehillerin it was so amazing. Pots, knifes, moulds, utensils, storage products and so much more. This store has heaps of appeal and oozes culinary history, even if you don't love to cook, I recommend a visit.
Useful information
Address: E. Dehillerin, 18-20 Rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris
Closest métro station: Les Halles (Line 4)
Once you step into this old-world shop, you'll be surprised at just how modern and organised it is behind the scenes even if they don't look like they even know what a credit card looks like. With friendly service and a home delivery option, E. Dehillerin is one of my favourite Julia Child haunts.
“In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport.” - Julia Child
Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume I and II and The French Chef Cookbook
Recording her cooking attempts and wanting to share French cuisine with her fellow Americans, Julia started writing her own cookbooks that ultimately made her into a household name and inspired countless others to prepare French recipes and appreciate French food.
"Julia’s legendary first cookbook (1961), co-authored with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, launched her career and changed America. Born from Julia’s discovery of her love for cooking and eating while living in France, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume One is a comprehensive guide to the fundamentals of French cuisine. Considered by many to be one of the best and most important cookbooks of all time, it’s an essential part of every cook’s library." - The Julia Child Foundation
The next couple of books written by Julia also went on to wide acclaim - Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume Two (1970) and The French Chef Cookbook (1968) which is described as “for the millions more who have yet to see Julia Child’s groundbreaking television series, this book contains the complete collection of recipes from the cooking show".
Julia Child's cookbooks are available via my Amazon storefront in my 'Favourite Cook Books' section or click on the Amazon links below. If you purchase from my curated Amazon collections it does not cost you anymore and as an Amazon Influencer I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases.
Rue Cler
Rue Cler was an often frequented area with its restaurants and shops and Julia loved to spend time here.
Au Pied de Cochon
She also loved Au Pied de Cochon, the brasserie which is known for its round-the-clock service and onion soup. If you have time in Paris, I really recommend you dine at this brasserie as it's one of my favourites with an extra amount of side walk tables, vast menu and a very cute pink pig meringue served complimentary at the end of your meal, it is a Parisian institution.
As the name suggests, pork is at the centre of its menu. The added bonus of dining at Au Pied de Cochon is that it is just down the street from E. Dehillerin.
Useful Information
Address: Au Pied de Cochon, 6 Rue Coquillière, 75001 Paris
Closest métro station: Les Halles (Line 4)
Le Grand Véfour, Palais Royal
Julia and Paul also liked to dine at Le Grand Véfour in the Palais Royal, choosing to dine there once a month being such a favourite. Le Grand Véfour, which dates back to 1784 is definitely worth a visit if want to follow in the footsteps of Julia Child.
To experience Julia Child's Paris you can wine and dine in the same historic cafes, visit fresh food markets, walk the same streets and buy your own cooking utensils at her frequented stores.
Useful Information
Address: Le Grand Véfour, 17 Rue de Beaujolais, 75001 Paris
Closest métro station: Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre (Line 1 or Line 7)
“I love cooking with wine. Sometimes, I even put it in the food.” – Julia Child
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