{"id":29757,"date":"2026-06-18T08:39:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T12:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanspaces.state.gov\/?p=29757"},"modified":"2026-06-23T13:45:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T17:45:42","slug":"julia-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanspaces.state.gov\/julia-child\/","title":{"rendered":"American Hero: Julia Child"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

JULIA CHILD<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
PROGRAM TOOLKIT FOR AMERICAN SPACES<\/strong><\/strong> <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
An American Hero<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This toolkit is designed for programming at American Spaces to support culinary diplomacy and showcase America\u2019s culinary excellence globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons<\/a><\/sup>
Julia Child in her kitchen in Massachusetts in 1978.<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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RESOURCES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Graphics<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n
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The American Heroes Collection<\/a> features digital media assets, including posters, videos, and social media graphics that were designed for use in American Spaces. The collection contains twelve files showcasing Julia Child that can be used online or in physical spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Films<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Julia<\/a> (94 minutes)* – This documentary follows Child’s life story, using archival footage and first-person narratives to tell how she revolutionized the way we think about food, chefs, and pop culture.

Julie and Julia (123 minutes)* \u2013 Julie Powell, a young blogger, is determined to emulate Julia Child’s cooking techniques. Though separated by time, the two women share a common passion for food that intertwines their lives. Starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Articles<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remembering Julia Child<\/a> <\/em>| Smithsonian Magazine

See the Tools and Gadgets From Julia Child\u2019s Kitchen That Reveal How the Beloved Chef Cooked<\/a> | Smithsonian Magazine<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online Exhibits<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Julia Child\u2019s Kitchen<\/a> | Smithsonian National Museum of American History
This online exhibit offers an immersive look inside the iconic Cambridge, Massachusetts, kitchen where Child cooked, experimented, and filmed her television programs.  Serving as both artifact and storytelling device, the kitchen anchors a broader exploration of how food, technology, and culture transformed American cooking and eating habits in the second half of the twentieth century.

Julia\u2019s Life and Work<\/a> | The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts
This timeline explores Child\u2019s life, career, and accomplishments \u2013 from her early years growing up in California and learning to cook in Paris, to her return to America, where she became one of the most influential voices in food. The website also includes podcasts, videos, and recipes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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INTRODUCTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julia Child (August 15, 1912 \u2013 August 13, 2004) was an American chef, author, and television personality. She became famous for introducing French cuisine to American audiences through her cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking<\/em> and her popular television show The French Chef<\/em>, which made complex recipes approachable for home cooks. Child trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and helped transform how Americans thought about cooking by emphasizing technique, clarity, and enjoyment in the kitchen. Her lively teaching style and passion for food made her a cultural icon, and her influence on culinary education and television continues to shape cooking today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LESSON PLAN<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julia Child and the Chemistry of Cooking<\/a> | National Women\u2019s History Museum<\/strong>
This lesson plan uses Julia Child\u2019s work to show how science shapes everyday cooking, helping students connect chemistry concepts to real foods and kitchen processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n