Unveiling the Magic: A Correspondent’s Hollywood Adventure with “Julie & Julia”
Last week, the Steamy Kitchen blog presented an extraordinary opportunity: an all-expenses-paid trip to Hollywood to attend the exclusive screening of the highly anticipated Julie & Julia movie. As circumstances prevented me from attending, I enthusiastically offered this golden ticket to one fortunate reader, who would then serve as Steamy Kitchen’s official correspondent for this star-studded culinary event. The lucky individual chosen for this incredible journey was Kelly, the creative mind behind Barbaric Gulp! Kelly immersed herself in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, attending the screening, enjoying exquisite dining, and mingling with key figures from the film. Below, you’ll find her captivating report from the heart of the action. Naturally, I couldn’t resist adding my own touch, providing a dash of commentary and a few choice observations alongside her vivid descriptions. Anything suspiciously in RED is from me, offering a little extra spice to Kelly’s wonderful narrative.
-jaden
My Whirlwind Week in Los Angeles: A “Julie & Julia” Experience
WOW! What an absolutely incredible, whirlwind week I’ve just experienced! My trip to Los Angeles was truly an amazing and unforgettable journey into the world of film and food. I must extend my sincerest gratitude once again to Jaden for generously offering this once-in-a-lifetime trip, to Kamran for selecting my comment among the top ten entries, and to Sony Pictures for their exceptional hospitality throughout the event! Stepping into the vibrant energy of Hollywood, I felt an exhilarating buzz, knowing I was about to dive deep into the story of two iconic women who reshaped the culinary landscape.
The Exclusive Screening: A Culinary Masterpiece Unveiled
The pinnacle event for food and film bloggers on Thursday kicked off with an eagerly awaited private screening of the Julie & Julia movie. This remarkable film weaves together two compelling narratives, drawing inspiration from Julia Child’s poignant memoir, My Life in France, and Julie Powell’s groundbreaking blog-turned-book, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. The cinematic masterpiece skillfully juxtaposes Julia Child’s formative years in Paris, where she embarked on her culinary journey at the esteemed Le Cordon Bleu and meticulously crafted her seminal work, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, with Julie Powell’s audacious challenge: cooking all 524 recipes from Child’s culinary bible within the span of just one year in her modest apartment kitchen. The film brilliantly captures the essence of passion, perseverance, and the transformative power of food across generations.
While I’m not permitted to delve into intricate plot details or provide a full review just yet – a comprehensive critique is slated for early August – I can confidently say that the film was nothing short of brilliant! It’s an inspiring, humorous, and deeply touching portrayal that truly captures the spirit of both women. As the trailers have already hinted, Meryl Streep’s embodiment of Julia Child is absolutely dead-on; her voice, mannerisms, and sheer presence are uncannily perfect, making you feel as though you are truly watching Julia Child herself. The film promises to delight both long-time fans of Julia Child and those discovering her legacy through Julie Powell’s contemporary lens. 
A Culinary Showcase: Chef Brian Malarkey and Julie Powell in Action
Following the captivating screening, we were treated to an exhilarating live cooking demonstration featuring none other than Chef Brian Malarkey, the acclaimed executive chef of The Oceanaire Seafood Room in San Diego and a distinguished finalist from Top Chef Season 3, alongside author Julie Powell herself. It was a rare opportunity to see these two culinary personalities collaborate in person! Brian and Julie deftly prepared two iconic dishes prominently featured in the film: a rich, aromatic Boeuf Bourguignon and a decadent chocolate cream pie. Their interaction was a delightful blend of expertise and playful banter, keeping the audience thoroughly entertained and engaged. During their lively exchange, Brian posed a question to Julie about her experience with the intensive year of cooking. Julie candidly admitted, with a wry smile, that she considered herself a “masochist” who “likes submitting to someone else’s recipes.” This revealing comment offered a fascinating insight into the dedication and sometimes overwhelming challenge of recreating Julia Child’s extensive repertoire, underscoring the true spirit of her unique culinary project. 
Behind the Scenes: The Art of Food Styling with Susan Spungen
The culinary insights continued with an introduction to Susan Spungen, the brilliant culinary consultant and food stylist responsible for making all the dishes in the film look absolutely irresistible. Susan shared fascinating details about her meticulous work, revealing that every single dish you see on screen is, in fact, real food – a testament to the film’s commitment to authenticity. She clarified that, thankfully, no actual lobsters were harmed during filming, maintaining ethical standards while still achieving realistic visuals. Even the notorious burnt Boeuf Bourguignon, a memorable scene in the movie, was prepared with real ingredients to capture its imperfect charm. And, apparently, all the food tasted as good as it looked!
Susan emphasized her dedication to staying true to Julia Child’s original recipes, making only minor adjustments when absolutely necessary for cinematic purposes. One notable exception was the apple tart tatin, for which she used her own recipe. She recounted a particularly challenging scene involving French onion soup, a dish famously known to be Julia Child’s last meal. The script specifically called for the cheese to “extend from the soup to her lips,” a seemingly simple detail that proved surprisingly difficult to achieve on set. 
While “boning a duck may have struck fear in the heart of Julie Powell,” Susan confessed that accomplishing the elusive “stringy cheese feat” for the onion soup scene was her biggest on-set fear. Her innovative solution involved incorporating mozzarella into the dish, which provided the ultimate stringiness required. Susan even demonstrated her ingenious method for preparing the soup for filming: she would meticulously finish each bowl ahead of time, allow it to cool, and then, just before the cameras rolled, she would use an electric paint remover on set to perfectly remelt the cheese, achieving that iconic, stretchy pull. It’s an incredible behind-the-scenes detail that highlights the creativity and problem-solving skills involved in food styling. You can actually see an exclusive clip of that very scene on Hollywood.com; it’s quite astonishing, and I remember even wondering if the cheese could possibly be that real when I first saw it! 
Collaborating with the Stars: Teaching Culinary Techniques to Actors
Beyond meticulously preparing all the food, Susan Spungen played a crucial role in working directly with the actors, guiding them before and during the complex cooking scenes. She personally taught Meryl Streep how to master the art of flipping an omelet with flair, a pivotal moment in the film. Moreover, every member of the cast involved in cooking sequences learned the intricate skill of boning a duck, ensuring authenticity in their performances. (Here’s another fascinating tidbit: when you see actress Amy Adams skillfully boning a duck on screen, those hands in the close-up shots actually belong to Susan herself! It’s a testament to the dedication to realism in the film’s production.)
Eating for the Camera: Chris Messina’s Culinary Marathon
The fascinating topic of “food on film” was further explored during an insightful interview with author Julie Powell and actor Chris Messina, who brilliantly portrays Julie’s supportive husband, Eric Powell, in the movie. Chris shared an amusing and often challenging aspect of his role: eating vast quantities of delicious food, take after take, under the glare of the cameras. He readily admitted that while the food was consistently excellent, the sheer volume became overwhelming. He humorously recounted one instance where, after consuming seven or eight bruschettas for a single scene, he found it necessary to keep a bucket discreetly positioned next to him! Despite these logistical difficulties, Chris delivered a truly fabulous performance, eating with an infectious gusto that makes his character incredibly relatable and, frankly, makes viewers utterly hungry. His commitment to making every bite look genuinely enjoyable is a testament to his acting prowess and certainly contributes to the film’s immersive culinary appeal. 
An Unforgettable Encounter: Meeting the Inspiring Julie Powell
For me, the undisputed highlight of the entire day was the profound pleasure of finally meeting Julie Powell. As I’ve often mentioned on my own blog, her compelling book, Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, served as a profound inspiration, sparking my own journey into trying new recipes and, ultimately, blogging about my culinary adventures. It felt like a full-circle moment to meet the woman who ignited that passion in me.
During our conversation, I seized the opportunity to ask her about any specific changes made to her story for the film that she might not have liked or agreed with. Julie, with refreshing candor, explained that her character in the movie is portrayed as a “sweetened version” of herself, a creative decision made to achieve a PG-13 rating. She revealed two specific changes that particularly irked her: firstly, her character’s use of the phrase “the F-word,” because, in real life, she would simply have used the word itself, without euphemism. Secondly, she disliked the portrayal of her character shopping at Dean & DeLuca, a high-end grocery store she would “never do” in her actual life. (In fact, she famously dubbed the store “Grocery of the Antichrist” on her original blog.) Nevertheless, despite these minor creative liberties, she genuinely seemed thrilled with the film and its ability to bring her extraordinary journey to a wider audience. We also discussed her eagerly anticipated next book, Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession, which was set to be released in December. This intriguing new project delves into her experiences learning the art of butchery, promising another captivating exploration of food, passion, and personal transformation. 
A Culinary Climax: The Film-Inspired Meal
After the series of enlightening interviews and demonstrations, we were treated to a magnificent meal that served as a perfect culinary climax to the day’s events. The menu was thoughtfully curated to feature three iconic dishes that played significant roles in the film: a robust Boeuf Bourguignon, a refreshing watercress soup, and a decadent chocolate cream pie. It was an absolute delight to not only discuss these dishes but to savor them firsthand, experiencing the flavors that underpinned the “Julie & Julia” narrative. Each course was a testament to the enduring appeal of French cuisine and Julia Child’s incredible influence. 
The watercress soup was surprisingly light and elegant, a perfect counterpoint to the richness of the main course. 
And the chocolate cream pie was, simply put, a heavenly end to a truly memorable meal. 
Embark on Your Own Culinary Journey: Recipes and Recommendations
If you’ve never had the pleasure of preparing Boeuf Bourguignon, I wholeheartedly suggest you do so! It’s a quintessential French classic: a rich, slow-cooked stew brimming with exceptionally tender beef, savory onions, sweet carrots, earthy mushrooms, and a generous infusion of red wine. The long, gentle simmer allows the flavors to meld beautifully, resulting in a dish that is both comforting and deeply satisfying. It’s the kind of meal that truly warms the soul.
Additionally, the chilled watercress soup we enjoyed, a delightful variation of the classic vichyssoise (a cold leek and potato soup), proved to be perfect for a warm summer evening. Its refreshing and subtly peppery notes make it an elegant starter or a light meal unto itself. Both of these timeless and delicious recipes can, of course, be found in Julia Child’s definitive culinary masterpiece, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a book that continues to inspire home cooks worldwide to explore the joys of French cuisine.
Your Chance to Win: A Culinary Giveaway!
Inspired to start your own culinary adventure or deepen your appreciation for these iconic women? Don’t have a copy of Julia Child’s essential cookbook, or Julie Powell’s captivating novel, that sparked this whole phenomenon? You’re in luck! I am currently hosting a fantastic giveaway on my blog, Barbaric Gulp, where you have the chance to win both a copy of Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and Julie Powell’s “Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen.” It’s a perfect opportunity to dive into the stories that have captivated so many and perhaps even begin your own culinary project. Head over to my blog for all the details on how to enter and bring a piece of this inspiring journey into your own kitchen!