Julie and Julia - and me!

I know I'm a couple of years late but I finally watched Julie and Julia lalst night. It was entertaining, though I thought meryl Streep overacted wildly (I may be unfair - maybe the real Julia Child was as theatrical as that).

It was interesting, though, to reflect that I've owned copies of her two-volume book for about 25 years and I've even attempted some of the recipes (with varying degrees of success). The chicken with port wine, cream and mushrooms recipe that's featured in the movie is one I've tried; as well as being one of the easier recipes, it's also absolutely delicious. I would also recommend the french Onion Soup recipe and the first of the two Moules Marinières one as being relatively do-able.

Beyond that, though, although the recipes are fantastic, the book is a bit of an anachronism. Much as I love cooking, the recipes are just too complicated, even if they are superb when they work. For example, the Coq au Vin recipe refers you to two separate sub-recipes - in a different part of the book - for preparation of the button onions and the mushrooms respectively. I mean, for God's sake! Mind you, I bought the book as a present for my brother subsequently (he is much more meticulous about cooking - and everything else - than I am) and he follows the Coq au Vin recipe to the letter. Which reminds me of another thing - by the time I bought him his copy the two volumes had been issued in a larger format - hopefully with a stronger binding.

Still, if you're one of those people who likes reading cookery books as gastro-porn (and I am) then Julia's is worth having. But I am still waiting for them to make a movie about Delia Smith - perhaps with Keira Knightley ir Carey Mulligan in the title role?

In the meantime, having posted this blog, AK Julie Powell, I'm waiting for the phone to ring...