One of my most prized possessions is the copy of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking that my grandmother gave me when I turned 30. I remember seeing the cookbook in her kitchen every ...

She was a towering figure on the culinary front for more than 40 years, turning the art of French cooking into prime-time television entertainment.

I can still see her, cigarette in mouth, a mug of coffee or cheap red wine within arm’s reach, standing at our kitchen island. My mom is chopping, mashing, dicing. Frying, braising, sautéing. Broiling ...