Local Wine Events

We will be celebrating the birthday of Julia Child, a culinary queen, who was born on August 15, 1912. She introduced French cuisine and cooking techniques to the American mainstream through her many cookbooks and television programs, notably The French Chef which premiered in 1963 and showcased her one-of-a-kind persona. Her most famous work is the 1961 cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

We will feast on baguette, butter, brie, crossiant, butter, foie gras, crepes, and butter. Other delicacies such as Boeuf Bourguignon or Beef Bourguignon will be served as well including more butter. You may bring your own wine to the event and we will serve coffee and tea. Chef Marissa will demonstrate how to make the perfect crepe and we will have a contest to see who can make the best crepe at the event.

The main dish of the evening will be Boeuf Bourguignon and prepared by Chef Marissa. Boeuf Bourguignon or Beef Bourguignon is one of the first dishes Julia Child made on her PBS show The French Chef.

Beef Bourguignon is a well-known, traditional French recipe. It is essentially a stew prepared with beef braised in red wine (preferably an assertive wine such as Burgundy because bourguignon means "of Burgundy", hence the literal translation is beef burgundy) and beef broth, generally flavoured with garlic, onions, carrots, and a bouquet garni, and garnished with pearl onions and mushrooms. Bacon cut into small cubes is used to produce the initial cooking fat and added to the dish at the end. Beef Bourguignon is one of many examples of older recipes being slowly refined into haute cuisine. Over time, the dish became a standard of French cuisine.

Door prizes will include these books: 
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously 
My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud'Homme

RSVP for Julia Child's Birthday Partyon Saturday August 15, 2009:
http://www.chicagobuffets.com/julia-child-birthday-party.html