Squid Ink's "Mastering the Art of Julia" Part 1

In anticipation of Nora Ephron's new movie "Julie and Julia," based on the autobiography of Julia Child, LA WEEKLY's Squid Ink ran the first of a series (written by Margy) in which different LA chefs share memories of the legendary lady.

The first was Border Grill/Ciudad's Mary Sue Milliken. She talks about Julia inviting her and Susan Feniger to participate in a panel of the American Institute of Wine and Food, and a humorous glimpse of the dynamic between Julia and her husband, as stolen from their hotel room window. As posted, the story is sweet and funny. But I think the unposted part of the story, the part Margy told me during our walk around Rancho Park, is even funnier. When the panel is over and Julia has Mary Sue and Susan for dinner, then drinks at the hotel, the then 26 year old chefs are out-boozed and out-partied by the "warbly voiced" old gal. What a lady!


I eagerly await the next installment. And the footnotes.

CORRECTION: Margy just told me that the window incident and the Brandy till 4 AM incident happened ten years apart. In the light of ten years later, I think the story is an even greater testament to JC's ability to out-party the kiddies. What a lady, indeed!