Hometown girl makes good! Julia Child week in Pasadena

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

It’s safe to say that when she was growing up there, Julia Child had mixed feelings about Pasadena. In those days she found it quite conservative. ‘I am, of course, ‘persona traitoria’ to my family in California, who are Old Guard Republicans of the blackest and most violently Neanderthal stripe,’ she once wrote a friend. But that was a long time ago and the city has changed a lot. So much so that to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the television cooking pioneer’s birth, eight Pasadena restaurants will be serving special Julia Child menus.

The celebration, dreamed up by Child’s publisher Alfred A. Knopf (and timed to coordinate with their publication of Bob Spitz’s new Child biography ‘Dearie’), will be observed at a/k/a an American Bistro, Cheval Blanc Bistro, Maison Akira, POP Champagne and Dessert Bar, StillRoom, the Royce at Langham and Vertical Wine Bistro. Each will be serving dishes based on or inspired by Child’s recipes.

In addition, on Aug. 15, the city of Pasadena will be hosting a city-wide cocktail party in Child’s honor. At 7 p.m., restaurant diners will host a toast to the great gal.

If you’re not in Pasadena, fear not. Other Southern California restaurants, including Comme Ca, Church & State, Jar, Kendall’s Brasserie, Tavern, Cafe Pierre, Maison Giraud, 71 Palm and Secret Garden will also be hosting celebrations.

ALSO:

Mac ‘n’ cheese recipes galore!

Go behind the scenes at the Test Kitchen

Browse hundreds of recipes from the L.A. Times Test Kitchen

--Russ Parsons