Comparing Child’s, Fisher’s, and Beard’s First French Meals

M.F.K. Fisher’s great-nephew Luke Barr has written a book called    Provence, 1970: M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, James Beard, and the Reinvention of American Taste which discusses a time when the esteemed culinarians James Beard, M.F.K. Fisher, Julia Child, Richard Olney, Simone Beck, and Judith Jones were all together in the South of France. Grub Street has excerpted some  of the book, specifically sections that describe The First French Meals of Julia Child, M.F.K. Fisher, and James Beard as well as Richard Olney, Judith Jones, and Simone Beck.

It’s a fun read – not only for the food but to compare the differences and the similarities. Wine, salad, cheese are all there, of course, but so are stuffed eggplant, roast chicken, and rabbit. One warning – do not read if you’re hungry – it would be hard to readily find an equally satisfying meal.

Photo from Luke Barr’s Provence