A Fond Adieu

Julia Child has cooked her last, and now she rests. She was an inspirational chef who encouraged Americans to enjoy their food, to bring a playfulness and a warmth to their cooking and eating. In her words:

"What's dangerous and discouraging about this era is that people really are afraid of their food," she told The Associated Press in 1989. "Sitting down to dinner is a trap, not something to enjoy. People should take their food more seriously. Learn what you can eat and enjoy it thoroughly."

Amen, Julia.