Julia Child and the Miller's Wife

Hello Foodies,

We have jumped on Julia¹s bandwagon this week and are eagerly anticipating the new movie, Julie & Julia appearing in a theatre near you (and me) on August 7th. The reviews, especially of Ms. Streep's portrayal of Julia Child have been favorable. Interviews with the stars covering everything from food to marriage have kept us entertained and piqued everyone¹s interest in Julia Child and her life in France. Restaurants in Chicago are paying homage to her by featuring recipes from her book from steak au poivre to a classic clafoutis. I can¹t help but feel a frisson of excitement for the renewed interest in French food and France.

For Julia her love affair with France started with a simple meal, actually a meal of sole meunière at La Couronne in Rouen (pictured here and still in business). I call this the ultimate in French "fast food". Why? Because the recipe is quick, requires simple ingredients that you usually have on hand and yet delivers a mouthful of flavor. A la meunière means "in the miller's wife's style", which means there will be flour in the recipe. Et voilà, the recipe, adapted from one of Julia¹s heros, Auguste Escoffier:

According to Escoffier this excellent mode of procedure will work with any small fish or slices of larger ones:

Sole (if you can afford it, or find it!) or any other white fish

Butter

Lemon, salt, pepper, parsley

Season the fish with a few drops of lemon juice, salt and pepper. While doing that, start heating your pan. Dip the fish in some flour, shaking to remove the excess. Melt some butter in the pan and when it starts to foam, place fish in the pan. Cook until browned on one side. Turn and brown the other side. Remove from pan, place on the serving dish. Wipe out the frying pan. Sprinkle the fish with a few drops of lemon juice and chopped parsley. Right before serving the fish, place some butter in the hot pan and heat it until it starts to brown SLIGHTLY. Pour the butter over the fish and serve immediately.

Celebrate with Julia this week before or after the movie and try your own version of Sole meunière, the first dish Julia enjoyed in France and according to her changed her life. In fact, she loved it so much she ate it 3 more times the first week she lived in Paris. . . et comme Julia a dit toujours, Bon Appétit!

Enjoy,

Debra