5 Interesting Facts Featuring: Julia Child

November 24, 2020

Julia Child is not just a bestselling author and chef

Julia Child was much more than a bestselling cookbook writer and chef. Did you know that she was also a breast cancer survivor, a TV trailblazer, and a government spy throughout her life?

1. Spy During World War II

Julia Child took a position at the Office of Strategic Services (CIA 1.0). She started as a research assistant in the Secret Intelligence division; by working hard, Julia moved up the ladder to the OSS Registry chief. Getting this position meant Julia had top-level security clearance.

This is where she met Paul Child, the OSS officer she would eventually marry.

2. Married In Bandages

When the war was over, Julia and Paul Child chose to take a "few months to get to know each other in civilian clothes." They visited family and traveled before marrying.  

Julia remembered she was "extremely happy, but a bit banged up from a car accident the day before." Julia had to wear a bandage on her face for her wedding photos.  

3. Nine Years to Write Her First Cookbook

Mastering the Art of French Cooking transformed home cuisine when it was published in 1961—but the revolution didn't occur overnight. Child first began work on her famous cookbook in 1952 after meeting Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle.

This pair of French women worked on a cookbook intended to teach Americans the Art of French cuisine. Child represented the voice of the American chef as the third author. After nine years of research, rewrites and dismissals happened before the cookbook found a publisher at Alfred A. Knopf.

4. Famous for Scrambling Eggs on PBS

Julia Child's big television break began with an unlikely beginning: Boston's local tv station. While supporting Mastering the Art of French Cooking data-preserver-spaces="true">, Child was a guest on the program I've Been Reading.

Instead of sitting down and discussing recipes, Child began cracking eggs into a pan and cooking them on a hot plate she carried with her. She made an omelet while filming and answered questions; the viewers loved it. 

5. Breast Cancer Survivor

Julia Child's doctors requested a mastectomy in the late 1960s following a regular biopsy that came back cancerous. She was depressed after her 10-day stay in the hospital. Her husband, Paul, was a mess during all of Julia's health issues. 

Eventually, Julia became outspoken about her procedure, hoping that it would eliminate the stigma for other women. In Time Magazine, Child was quoted saying, "I would certainly not pussyfoot around having a radical [mastectomy] because it's not worth it."

Bonus: The Sacred Bag

All of Julia Childs's tools were kept in a "SACRED BAG." According to a 1974 article in the New Yorker, Child traveled with a huge black canvas bag called the "sacred bag." No, not blessed artifacts; the bag held the cooking tools she couldn't survive without. 

The sacred bag held her pastry-cutting wheel, her personal flour scoop, knives, and other special cooking tools. She started carrying this bag when The French Chef premiered and only trusted special people with its care.

Learn More About Julia the Chef through her cookbooks

You can learn more about Julia Child by reading one of her many cookbooks I have in stock. Her knowledge, personality, and love of food shine through the recipes. Enjoy!

You can search for any term used in an antique or vintage cookbook you're unsure of in my glossary of terms used in vintage cookbooks. Or just read it for pleasure; I found brown flour to be very interesting.

Happy reading,

Pam of Reading Vintage

“Books, I found, had the power to make time stand still, retreat, or fly into the future.”—Jim Bishop

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