An exhibit about Julia Child is opening in Richmond
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"Julia Child: A Recipe for Life" runs through early Sept. Photo: Karri Peifer/Axios
An exhibition about Julia Child — the chef, author and TV personality who made French cuisine approachable for Americans — opens Saturday at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
Why it matters: Child had a profound influence on American food culture that ultimately transformed the country's culinary scene.
The big picture: Richmond is the first of only two East Coast stops for the traveling exhibition, "Julia Child: A Recipe for Life." It's dedicated to exploring Child's life and legacy. Highlights include:
- Colorful images from Child's life.
- Handwritten recipes and notes.
- Clips from her long-running show, "The French Chef."
- And an 8-foot-tall digital copy of her book,"Mastering the Art of French Cooking."
Plus, interactive installations allow visitors to:
- Experience a meal at La Couronne, the restaurant where Child had her first French meal.
- Recreate moments from Child's life, like her and husband Paul's famous bathtub Valentine card.
- Try their hand at wine pairings.
- And stand in (and work the camera) a replica "The French Chef" set.
Worthy of your time: Child's visits to Virginia are highlighted in the exhibit, plus installations on some of the local culinary powerhouses she influenced, including:
- Jimmy Sneed, the chef and owner of the now-closed Frog and the Redneck.
- David Shannon, chef and owner of L'Opossum.
- Tanya Cauthen, owner of Belmont Butchery.
Zoom in: Child's influence on American cuisine extends to inspiring many of Virginia's most celebrated chefs.
Were it not for Julia Child, chef and owner Patrick O'Connell likely never would've opened The Inn at Little Washington, the award-winning restaurant in a small Virginia mountain town.
- The self-taught chef honed his craft by cooking his way through Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." By 1974, he was a struggling caterer in that town when he had a chance to meet Child. Her passion and a few words of kindness gave him all the confidence he needed to keep at it.
- Four years later, he'd open the Inn. Child became a frequent diner and a suite is named in her honor.
Today, The Inn at Little Washington is one of only 13 three-Michelin-star restaurants in the country.
- And the stove where O'Connell once cooked Child's recipes opens the "Julia Child: A Recipe for Life" exhibit at the Virginia museum.
If you go: "Julia Child: A Recipe for Life" runs through Sept. 2 at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.
- The museum is open daily, 10am-5pm; adult admission is $12.