Julia Child's China Connection

This Wednesday, August 13, marks the tenth anniversary of Julia Child's passing. The formidable female chef is best known for bringing French cuisine to mid-twentieth century American kitchens with her magnum opus Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Many would be surprised to learn, then, that she first discovered her love for food right here in the East.

Having entered the Office of Strategic Services (the predeccesor of the CIA) in the early 1940s, and rising quickly through the ranks, the then Julia McWilliams was posted to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1944 where she would meet her future husband Paul Child. The budding couple would be posted to Kunming in the last years of the war.

In various memoirs, she describes how the two continued their courtship over fabulous meals of Chinese food. Looking back on the food, she would later recall: "The Chinese food was wonderful, and we ate out as often as we could. That is when I became interested in food. I just loved Chinese food." (Side note: thanks to the film Julie & Julia I can now only ever imagine quotes from Julia Child being read by Meryl Streep). Beijing cuisine in particular became a favorite of Julia's, and she and Paul chose a Beijing-style restaurant called Ho-Teh-Foo for their last meal in Kunming, as Carolyn Phillips describes in Zester Daily. 

Unfortunately, we never got to see Julia cooking or eating Chinese food, but you can still indulge in a bit of gastro-porn by watching Julie & Julia (available in China on iQiyi). 

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Email: robynnetindall@thebeijinger.com
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Photo: Kevin Harber (Flickr, A reproduction of Julia Child's kitchen in the Smithsonian), biography