Like others, I remember the fascination with watching Julia Child on public television as a kid in the 70's, and even beyond (I think it was on cable sometime within the last decade). Recently I felt compelled to purchase this. I own the book "In Julia Child's Kitchen" which most of the recipes for the color TV shows are found, and I had fond memories. I was not disappointed! In fact, I plan to purchase Volume 2. I love the way the discs are divided into appetizers, etc., main courses and desserts. So much information here. Each show is a full 30 minutes. I love how Julia throws other information in along the way (such as the French Onion Soup show where she goes into detail about sharpening and caring for knives). Such a warm and wonderful personality, she is always humourous, never condescending. It is funny to watch things "not quite" turn out as planned, and she goes with it. It is a joy to watch! My only disappointment is that there's not a "Volume 3." There are SO MANY of these shows available, I hope WGBH in Boston will release them in time. (One that I REALLY wish they would release on DVD is the Chicken Breast show which featured Chicken Kiev, I remember this one especially.) Yes, these shows are 30+ years old, and some of the foods are not quite what I would serve today (tripe, anyone?) but regardless there is a wealth of information in addition to the entertainment value. Highly recommended! Read more
Wow. I'm a FOODNETWORK junkie at heart, and seeing this show puts all those other wild, pretentious, and over-the-top cooking shows in their proper perspective. For my first ever Amazon purchase I chose this marvelous foray into early videotape television. Ms. Child- already 50 at the start of this series and an amazon in her own right with her 6'2" frame- gives you the direct cooking business, without giving you the business. I had seen some of her later shows on PBS in the 80s, but THE FRENCH CHEF had already wrapped by then- save the occasional reruns. (Amazingly, this marvelous show only ran ten years, ending in 1973.) But the episodes don't look any older or younger than any of her subsequent series, which is a testimony to their timelessness. Humble, self-deprecating, and a little wicked, Julia rocks. And cooks. And brandishes a mean cleaver. Watch for the notable kinescope look of her very first show (from 1963) as she prepares Boeuf Bourguignon in real time. Later episodes switch over to B&W videotape, then to color videotape as well as a new, springier theme song, while gliding through such dishes as Salade Nicoise, Pommes de terre (potatoes) au gratain, spinach in puff pastry, lobster, stuffed sausage, roast suckling pig, chocloate mousse, an entire episode dedictated to roasting a chicken, and french onion soup. Purchase the 2 French Chef volumes together if you can-- more Julia at one time!! Omigod-- "the Chicken sisters!!" Read more
I just love this DVD. It was so interesting and funny to see the very early episodes and how they pulled them off. Julia absolutely set the standard for todays cooking shows. I definitely recommend them. If you are a Julia Child fan, I also recommend reading her Memoir, 'My Life in France' and 'Dearie, The Remarkable Life of Julia Child'. You will really see that Julia's life's purpose was truly to teach us how to cook and develop a love affair with food, as well as the wonderful loving relationship she and Paul Child shared. My own Mother was an excellent cook, and my Father was a chef long before it became fashionable. So my love for cooking comes natural. My fascination with Julia all started while watching the episodes on PBS; and it really took off after I purchased "Mastering the Art of French Cooking a couple of years ago. I have learned so many new techniques from watching this series regardless of the age of them. It just goes to show you that great French cooking techniques that produce amazing food, never ever grows old. Addi E Read more
