Julia Child exhibit debuts at the Henry Ford highlighting the life of the culinary great

Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·2 min read
The Julia Child exhibit debuts at The Henry Ford.
The Julia Child exhibit debuts at The Henry Ford.

If you've ever wondered what drove Julia Child to take up cooking, you can find the answer in Dearborn, when a traveling exhibit exploring the life of the culinary great makes its debut at the Henry Ford.

"Julia Child: A Recipe for Life" opens Saturday in the Gallery by General Motors in the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Created and toured by Flying Fish, the exhibit runs through Sept. 10 and offers a look into Child's evolution in the culinary world and her influence in America. The chef is famous for quotations such as "I think every woman should have a blowtorch" and "If you're afraid of butter, use cream."

Child became a household name for millions of TV viewers after Dan Aykroyd parodied her PBS cooking series, "The French Chef," on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1970s.

It was after Child and her husband, Paul, moved to France that she grew to love French cuisine and eventually co-authored "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." The exhibit depicts inspiring moments in Child's life as well as stories of those who supported her.

Interactive experiences include:

  • The "French Chef" television set.

  • Video, audio and photography documenting Julia Child, her distinctive voice and contributions to the culinary world.

  • Sounds and smells of Child's kitchen.

  • An opportunity for visitors to view and share memories of Julia’s legacy.

Child-inspired dishes like ratatouille, cassoulet of pork and tomato Provencal will be featured in the Plum Market Kitchen. Themed merchandise inspired by Julia Child and created by Liberty Craftworks pottery artisans in Greenfield Village will be available. Items include kitchen spoon rests, utensil holders and small mixing bowls.

Cooking demonstrations showcasing Child's techniques and recipes take place June 22, July 27 and Aug. 24. The demonstrations include a live Q&A and food samples.

Another event tied to the Julia Child exhibit is the Gleaners Cooking Matters program, which takes place 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June 24 and features an activity on healthful eating for kids.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Julia Child exhibit to open at the Henry Ford in Dearborn