A Perfect Cocktail-The Marriage of Julia & Paul Child

& Paul's go-to cocktail recipe.

Steak and fries. Lime and Coconut. Gin and vermouth. Julia Child and her husband, Paul. There are some pairings that just seem inspired. Luckily for all of us, Julia Child’s husband doubled as her muse. 

It wasn’t until Julia married Paul in her thirties, that he piqued her interest in cooking. Who doesn’t love a good glow up in their thirties? Paul’s mother lived in Paris briefly thus introducing him to a much more cultural food experience compared to Julia’s upbringing. The couple soon moved to Paris for Paul’s job where he often had to wine and dine high government officials, but as a good spouse does, he first wined and dined his wife. He took her to the Restaurant La Couronne in Normandy, the oldest restaurant in France. A spot rather memorable for both her and Joan of Arc. Julia seems to have gotten the better deal. She later recounted her first French meal in her biography, My Life in France. 

Paul had decided to order sole meunière. It arrived whole: a large, flat Dover sole that was perfectly browned in a sputtering butter sauce with a sprinkling of chopped parsley on top. The waiter carefully placed the platter in front of us, stepped back, and said: “Bon appétit!” … It was the most exciting meal of my life. 

It was this chef’s kiss level meal that changed Julia’s, and our, lives forever. Julia was soon launched on a path as a French cook and famous TV personality. 

“We are a team. We do everything together,” Julia remarked, as well as crediting their happy marriage to the fact that they were constantly together. A concept that hits a tad differently after a year like 2020. 

We understand now, with the help of Beyonce, who runs the world? Girls. But for Julia Child she was a trailblazer when it came to females in the workplace. Paul believed women were capable of great things and of doing whatever work they pleased. If Julia needed a mushroom dicer, an onion chopper, or a dishwasher, Paul stepped in. It was like his joy was directly connected to Julia’s. Which we imagine is how the steak feels as it watches those skinny little fries joining him on the plate. 

Together Paul and Julia made a magnetic pair: with Paul’s flair for storytelling and Julia’s contagious enthusiasm, their parties were as dynamic as that first taste of beef bourguignon. Paul stepped in as bartender for their parties, whipping up craft cocktails of his own design. We imagine just as they, as a couple, complimented each other, so did their drinks and dishes. His specialty was what he called a Reverse Martini: a gin martini with more extra dry vermouth than gin and a sprinkle of lemon zest. Julia’s famous quote, “I believe in red meat. I’ve often said: red meat and gin,” has us assuming she was in the kitchen making steak. 

What a blessing it is to find the fry to your steak. A pairing where working together not only inspires you, but sparks success. Looks like love has the ability to point you in the right direction. A successful, and well-fed direction. 

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The Tourmaline

Named for the gemstone, this cocktail created by Paul Child gets its ruby color from beet juice.

Ingredients:

2 ounces of gin

1/2 ounces of beet juice

1/2 ounces of simple syrup

Juice from 1/2 of a lime, or more to taste

1 lime wheel

Directions:

Pour gin, beet juice, lime juice and simple syrup in a mixing glass, and fill with ice. Using a bar spoon, stir until outside of glass is frosty, about 30 seconds; strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

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