JULIE & JULIA

     So immediately after I saw Nora Ephron's amazing JULIE & JULIA last night, I rushed home to my battered (but largely unused) copy of the first volume of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." I wanted to check my memory: yes! it was signed by both Julia and Paul Child.  I remembered a trip long ago to Vroman's in Pasadena, where Julia was speaking, accompanied by Paul, and I went to hear her.  I remembered also all the PBS shows of Julia and her hooty voice, which in J&J Meryl Streep--of course--has exactly right.  

     The movie combines two books: the one written by Julie Powell, in which she cooks a year of Julia Child recipes and blogs about her experience; the other Julia Child's autobiography, about her years leading up to her fame resulting from the wide acceptance of her cookbook and the subsequent popular PBS shows.  Ephron weaves the stories skillfully, even though they are generations apart. Amy Adams' Julie is a worthy participant in this foodie/love story film.  

     I've dogeared the boeuf bourguignon for later this fall, and then, when my courage and ambition return after this summer, the pate de canard en croute.  Sigh.  I'm salivating.