Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Happy 101st Birthday, Julia!

On August, 15th of last year, I decided to celebrate Julia Child´s very special 100th Birthday by baking her a cake that I thought she might have liked, bringing it to the house where she used to live in from 1954 to 1956 while she spent two years in Germany with her husband Paul.

On the occasion of Julia Child´s 101st birthday tomorrow, I decided to re-blog this post, it is still very dear to my heart.





"Dear Julia,


before we start the celebration on your special day today, let me tell you that although we have never met in person or had our picture taken together and although I was never lucky enough to attend any of your cooking shows or book signings, our paths have crossed in more than one way, and one aspect stands out in particular.



For two years of your wonderful and interesting life, you used to live in the same City that I grew-up in and live in again today with my family!



While I was reading the fabulous book „As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto” (published December, 1, 2010), I came across the following excerpt from the book, it is one of your letters to your friend Avis, dated October 27, 1954:











In 1954, you and your husband Paul moved to what was then the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany, namely Bonn. You lived here for two years. In your letter, you talk about your time in Germany, your struggles with learning the German language and the apartment that you and Paul used to live in. You write that the apartment was located at “Steubenring 3, Apt. 5, Plittersdorfer Aue, Bad Godesberg, Germany”. It was located in an area of Bonn known then as the American sector, it was an apartment complex owned by the HICOG, the “High Commission for Occupied Germany”.

Well, let me tell you, I was quite delighed to see that the housing complex still exists and so does your former apartment.


1952



2012


I took my two youngest daughters to the housing complex, a mere 15 minute drive from our house. When you compare the photograph dated 1952 with the photograph I took today, you will hardly see any difference. Except, today, the people that live in these apartments work mostly for the United Nations. While, obviously, the names have changed on the name plates, the apartments still bear the same numbers - yours was number five, third floor, on the right.




After our little photo session in front of your former apartment, we decided to wander in your footsteps for a brief moment in time and it felt really special! Right around the corner from the apartment complex, there is now the so-called United Nations Campus, then there is the Bonn International School and, of course the Rhine River. In your letters, I read that you really enjoyed your walks along the riverbank. There also used to be an American supermarket and an American Club. And just a few steps away, there is the “Stimson Memorial Chapel”.




Built in 1952 and owned by the American Government until June, 20, 1999, when it was presented as a gift of the United States of America to the City of Bonn...




…by the President at the time, Bill Clinton.




Julia, looking at the house where you used to live at during your life in Germany for two years with your husband Paul, and walking through your former neighbourhood, I could not help but wonder about the places where you used to take your walks, did your groceries and how your kitchen used to look like, looking at the size of the apartment, I guess it was another “very small German kitchen”.




Oh, let me mention one more thing that we share. I was born in August too, just like you, born under the sign of the Leo – now, let´s celebrate and have a slice of the birthday cake that I baked for you, a marzipan cake, shaped like a flower and proudly displayed right in front of your former apartment by two young fans of yours, my two youngest daughters! And although I took the liberty of baking one of my recipes, I am sure that you approve, a German recipe to celebrate your birthday and remember the time that you spent in this country.


Happy 101st Birthday, Julia! - Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu deinem 101.Geburtstag, Julia!"





42 comments:

  1. Ein schöner Geburtstagswunsch für Julia! What a beautiful tribute to Julia, Andrea - I didn't know you a year ago, so I am so glad to see you repost this! It is so sweet that you took the cake to her old apartment, and the photo of your daughters with it is just lovely. Happy 101st, Julia - you changed all our lives and continue to do so. Hugs from Tucson... David

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    1. David, you are such a kind commentator! This post happens to be one of my favorites from last year, aren´t they all?! We actualy took a long walk in front of Julia´s former apartment last week and it is then I decided to re-post this birthday post for Julia.

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  2. Andrea, this is the sweetest post! I love that your darling little girls are a part of this, what a wonderful way to proliferate budding epicureans :) They'll never forget this! And that cake sounds fabulous, Julia would have been delighted!!

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    1. Chris, you are very kind - the two youngest ones loved paying a visit to Julia Child´s former home and I am sure that they will remember tht visit too - not only because it was soo hot when we took the pictures but also because this cake is one of their favorite cakes and they all enjoyed a slice after the visit.

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  3. What a heart-warming idea. You're such a sentimental person, Andrea.
    And you're girls are just cute cute cute!
    xo

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    1. Colette, thank you very much - lucky for me the cutiest on the pictures were happy to oblige that day!

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  4. Happy birthday, Julia! And happy birthday to you, too, Andrea!!!

    PS...gorgeous cake!

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  5. Andrea, this is such a lovely post,we got hooked to it and thoroughly enjoyed while reading it ad looking at those snaps...you are blessed with two sweetest angels and seriously we drooled over that cake....
    we are so happy that you feel cooking and its aspects so deeply...HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!! :-)

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    1. Kumar, how nice that you liked this post and took the time to read it. Hopefully I did not over-indulge while writing my post, but even to Germans, Julia Child was and remains to be quite an inspirational homecook and baker! Besides I am baking my way through "Baking with Julia" with the TwD group, so there seemed to be no better way to honor her than with this tiny tribute.

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  6. This is amazing! I had no idea that Julia lived in Germany for two years, now I even know her house!! Gorgeous post Andrea and the cake looks too good!!! :)
    Big hug from Switzerland and have e great day!!
    xox Amy

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    1. Amy, thank you very much - before I read the above mentioned book, I did not realize that she spent two years of her life here and used to live a mere 15 minutes from our home and I was thrilled when I found out.

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  7. How sweet, happy birthday !
    The cake looks really good.

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  8. What a lovely post! Your daughters are darling, and this was a lovely way of paying tribute to a culinary genius.

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    1. Beth, you are very kind and thank you so much for the nice comment! I felt that I owed this to Julia Child (in a a really good way) and had fun researching and writing this post!

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  9. What a lovely tribute :) So cool that you live so close to her old home!

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    1. Ashley, thank you for the kind words - glad that you enjoyed this post!

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  10. So cool that her apartment still exists! Great tribute.

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  11. I really enjoyed your heartwarming post! Your kind and sweet personality shows in the post. Beautiful cake and I'm sure she appreciate your beautiful tribute, Andrea!

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    1. Nami, how nice that you enjoy this post - it was quite fun putting it together and I like the idea that Julia Child used to live just about 15 minutes from where we live now.

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  12. Awwww. What a sweet post. Happy Birthday Julia Child. What a gorgeous cake, Andrea. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Hester, glad that you like this birthday tribute to the great Julia Child. Thanks for the comment!

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  13. This is a terrific post. Happy Birthday to Julia. She was and is a cooking inspiration. Have a good weekend!

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    1. Thank you, Kristin! Julia Child was a very inspiring person, for people all over the world!

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  14. Brilliant.
    Beautiful.
    What a sweet tribute to a superb fabulous unique woman!
    I Love! Xxx

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  15. What a lovely tribute (by far the best I've seen...and I've seen quite a few!) I loved seeing your girls holding that cake. I know that Julia would have loved it too. Thank you for sharing this with us!

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    1. Monet, that makes me quite happy to read that you (as a writer) enjoy this post - it was one of my favorite posts last year and I enjoyed re-posting it!

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  16. I am glad you reposted this lovely tribute to Julia. I recently read "My life in France" and it was one of those books I just couldn't put down. Julia had such a lovely way with words I am sure that she would have been a great blogger if such a thing had existed in her time.

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    1. Karen, thank you very much - "My Life in France" is such a wonderful book and you are right, Julia did have quite a way with words (and recipes and TV appearances and so much more).

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  17. What a beautiful idea!!!

    I am from Germany and I am living in Maryland right now. With your blog I am following for quite a while I have decided to create something like that about my life in Md. There are so many great recipes to share, there are not only barbecues and hamburgers and soft drinks...

    I have to figure out how to get started. I also love cooking, baking and photographing... So thank you so much for this input :-)

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    1. Das freut mich, dass der Blog eine Inspiration ist - man kann mir aber auch ruhig auf deutsch einen Kommentar schreiben! - Thank you so much for your very lovely comment - if you get a chance, do let me know once you get started on your new blog so that I can go and "visit" you!
      Liebe Grüße aus Bonn!

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    2. das mache ich in jedem Fall :-)
      Ich vergass zu erwaehnen, dass ich die beiden "French Cooking" Ausgaben von 1970 mein Eigen nennen darf, die hat mal eine Bekannte fuer einen Dollar auf einem Yard Sale fuer mich vor 20 Jahren gekauft, aber Baking with Julia ist mein absolutes Lieblingsbackbuch. Da ist noch nie etwas schief gegangen... Im Museum of American History hier in Washington D.C. kann man sich uebrigens Julia's Originalkueche und auf Videos von ihren Kochshows anschauen...

      Ausserdem noch ein dickes Lob an die Fotografin. Die Fotos hier auf diesem Block sind ganz, ganz toll. Vielen Dank! Es ist immer eine Freude reinzuschauen...

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    3. Das freut mich noch mehr! Ein deutscher Kommentar, ich kann es kaum glauben! Danke auch für das "dicke Lob" - freut mich, dass die Fotos gut ankommen! Und das mit der Küche oder "Kulissenküche" von Julia Child weiß ich zwar schon, aber besucht habe ich sie natürlich noch nicht - meine Wege haben mich in der letzten Zeit leider nicht nach Washington geführt, aber wer weiß?!
      Liebe Grüße aus Bonn,
      Andrea

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  18. I'm so glad you re-posted this. It was so fun to read about your day and look at your photos. I just added "As always, Julia" to my wish list. I'm looking forward to reading it when I have some time.

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    1. Jora, thank you very much for the comment - the book "As always, Julia" is certainly worth a read - if you do get a chance to read it in the near future (I know that can be somewhat of a challenge with a baby), let me know whether you enjoyed it!

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  19. what a wonderful article!thank you so much for sharing with us. Lovely photos.

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    1. Thank you kindly! So nice to read that you like this post and the pictures!

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  20. Love, love, love this thoughtful post. What a fun trip down memory lane. And your girls are darling!

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    1. Cindy, you are such a wonderful person - thank you for letting me know that you like this post - it is dear to my heart and it meant a lot to the girls to go and see Julia´s old apartment and bring a cake to celebrate that extraordinary person that she was!

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