Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home Book Summary

In 'Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home,' culinary legends Julia Child and Jacques Pepin invite you into their kitchens for a delightful journey of flavors and techniques. With their warm banter and expert guidance, they demystify the art of cooking, from classic French dishes to everyday meals. Each recipe is infused with personality and passion, making even the most complex dishes approachable. Discover the joys of cooking alongside these icons, as they share personal anecdotes and invaluable tips. This book is not just a collection of recipes; it's an invitation to embrace the pleasure of cooking at home.

By Julia Child, Jacques Pepin

Published: 1999

"Cooking is the ultimate giving. It’s not just about nourishing the body; it’s about sharing joy, loving, and creating memories with every dish."

Julia and Jacques Cooking at HomeBook binding

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Book Review of Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home

Two legendary cooks invite us into their kitchen and show us the basics of good home cooking. Julia Child and Jacques Pépin are synonymous with good food, and in these pages they demonstrate techniques (on which they don’t always agree), discuss ingredients, improvise, balance flavors to round out a meal, and conjure up new dishes from leftovers. Center stage are carefully spelled-out recipes flanked by Julia’s and Jacques’s comments—the accumulated wisdom of two lifetimes of honing their cooking skills. Nothing is written in stone, they imply. And that is one of the most important lessons for every good cook. So sharpen your knives and join in the fun as you learn to make: • Appetizers: from traditional and instant gravlax to your own sausage in brioche and a country pâté • Soups: from New England chicken chowder and onion soup gratinée to Mediterranean seafood stew and that creamy essence of mussels, billi-bi • Eggs: omelets and “tortillas”; scrambled, poached, and coddled eggs; eggs as a liaison for sauces and as the puffing power for soufflés • Salads and Sandwiches: basic green and near-Niçoise salads; a crusty round seafood-stuffed bread, a lobster roll, and a pan bagnat • Potatoes: baked, mashed, hash-browned, scalloped, souffléd, and French-fried • Vegetables: the favorites from artichokes to tomatoes, blanched, steamed, sautéed, braised, glazed, and gratinéed • Fish: familiar varieties whole and filleted (with step-by-step instructions for preparing your own), steamed en papillote, grilled, seared, roasted, and poached, plus a classic sole meunière and the essentials of lobster cookery • Poultry: the perfect roast chicken (Julia’s way and Jacques’s way); holiday turkey, Julia’s deconstructed and Jacques’s galantine; their two novel approaches to duck • Meat: the right technique for each cut of meat (along with lessons in cutting up), from steaks and hamburger to boeuf bourguignon and roast leg of lamb • Desserts: crème caramel, profiteroles, chocolate roulade, free-form apple tart—as you make them you’ll learn all the important building blocks for handling dough, cooking custards, preparing fillings and frostings • And much, much more . . . Throughout this richly illustrated book you’ll see Julia’s and Jacques’s hands at work, and you’ll sense the pleasure the two are having cooking together, tasting, exchanging ideas, and raising a glass to savor the fruits of their labor. Again and again they demonstrate that cooking is endlessly fascinating and challenging and, while ultimately personal, it is a joy to be shared.

Book Overview of Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home

About the Book Authors

J

Julia Child

Julia Child was a pioneering American chef, author, and television personality, best known for bringing French cuisine into the American home through her engaging and approachable cooking style. Her most notable works include 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking,' co-authored with Simone Beck, which became a classic in culinary literature, and her memoir 'My Life in France,' where she shares her experiences of discovering the French culinary arts. Julia's writing style is characterized by its warmth, humor, and detailed instructions that make cooking accessible to everyone.

J

Jacques Pepin

Jacques Pepin is a renowned French chef, author, and television personality known for his contributions to the culinary arts. He has written over 30 cookbooks, with notable works such as 'La Technique,' 'Essential Pepin,' and 'The Art of Cooking.' Pepin's writing style is characterized by his clear, instructive prose which breaks down complex cooking techniques into accessible steps, making gourmet cooking achievable for home chefs. His passion for food and culinary education has made him a beloved figure in the culinary community.

Book Details

Key information about the book.

Authors
Julia Child, Jacques Pepin
Published
September 1999
Publisher
National Geographic Books
ISBN
0375404317
Language
English
Pages
N/A
Genres
Diet and NutritionHealth and WellnessFood Science

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Cooking is the ultimate giving. It’s not just about nourishing the body; it’s about sharing joy, loving, and creating memories with every dish.

Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home

By Julia Child, Jacques Pepin

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