August 15, 2012 would have been Julia Child’s 100th birthday. In commemoration of this milestone, restaurants around the country are celebrating with special menus, toasts, events and promotions. As Julia would say, “life itself is the proper binge,” so bon appetit!
Central Michel Richard
Washington DC and Las Vegas, NV
August 7-15
Central Michel Richard is honoring Julia Child at both locations by adding a dish to the menu called Chicken “Julia” with ratatouille. Recommended accompaniment: Echézeaux wine. The price of the dish is $24 plus the price of wine.
Oyster Bar
New York, NY
August 15-18
The Oyster Bar at Grand Central will be celebrating Julia Child with four French wine specials and her favorite martini called the “Upside Down” (Gin and French Vermouth). The wine specials are served by the bottle and by the glass. On August 15, there will be a special toast in honor of her actual birthday.
Funky Monkey Wine Company
Orlando, FL
August 15
The Funky Monkey Wine Company is having a special dinner series themed around Julia’s birthday. For $100 per person, all food and wine is included and a commemorative menu with a picture of Julia is given to each guest. The evening of August 15 begins with a champagne reception followed by a six-course menu, including lobster quiche, steak au poivre and an endive and watercress salad. Wine is paired with each course.
Café Dupont
Washington DC
August 7-15
Chef David Fritsche will be presenting a Julia Child 100th birthday menu where the dishes are deeply rooted in French bistro fare. The three-course meal with wine pairings is $50. Examples from each course include an appetizer of Parfait de Foie de Poulet with a 2010 Domaine Vocoret Chablis and an entrée of orange glazed duck breast with chick peas and black mission figs, paired with a 2009 Louis Max Hautes Cotes du Nuits Pinot Noir. For dessert, a peach tart will be served. Lastly, author Bob Spitz will be on hand on August 15th to present his biography of Julia titled Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child. He will answer questions and do a book signing.
Andres
Las Vegas, NV
August 7-15
Andres at the Monte Carlo resort is serving a week-long special menu offering Julia Child’s favorite dishes. Julia Child’s Celebration menu includes smoked salmon parfait, beef Rossini and baked Alaska, to name a few selections.
Petite Maison
Scottsdale, AZ
August 7-15
Petite Maison curated a special menu in honor of Julia Child for $35, and for $10 more, there a wine can be paired with each course. The first course features curly endive with crispy poached egg, Yukon pearls, lardon and garden herbs. As an entrée, one of the choices is a sole meuniere with roasted oysters, asparagus, meyer lemon and browned butter.
Union Square Café
New York, NY
August 15
The Union Square Café will be presenting a $65 prix fix tasting menu inspired by dishes from Julia Child. Included is a mussel dish with herb mayo and a roasted duck with peaches.
Sel de la Terre
Boston, MA
August 7-15
Sel de la Terre is offering a three-course dinner menu for $45 in tribute of Julia Child. The menu features classic dishes of hers, such as duck liver mousse on toast for a first course and lamb pot pie with lamb shoulder braised in red wine and served with root vegetables as a main. Crème brulee is a featured dessert.
Aureole
New York, NY
August 7-15
In its bar room, Aureole will be menuing Pate de Campagne—one of Julia Child’s famous dishes—for both lunch and dinner. Servers will provide wine recommendations.
Culinary Institute of America
Hyde Park, NY
August 1-31
The student-staffed restaurants on campus are preparing their own homage to Julia by highlighting her signature dishes through August 31. Following recipes taken from the pages of her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, the menus are featuring such iconic dishes as Savory Pissaladière Niçoise Tart, Summer Vegetable Terrine with Fresh Goat Cheese, Classic Cherries Jubilee for Two and Crème Brûlée.
Bayona
New Orleans, LA
August 13-18
Bayona has a very special three-course meal prepared by chef Susan Spicer to remember Julia Child on her 100th birthday. The celebration is called “A Week of Julia Child Inspired Dishes” and the three-course menu is $48.
RN74
Seattle, WA and San Francisco, CA
August 1-31
RN74 is offering a special tasting menu inspired by Julia Child in honor of her birthday. The menu is based on classic French cuisine with a modern twist.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.