Lately, everyone's telling their favorite Julia Child stories. Mine happened in one of her favorite restaurants, Hamersley's Bistro.
Years ago, soon after we bought our first pied-à-terre in Boston, a sailing buddy asked me to plan the perfect romantic weekend in the city as an anniversary gift for his wife.
I recommended a small hotel that had always pampered us on our Boston weekends. I suggested a walk in the Public Garden with a Swan Boat ride followed by afternoon tea at the Four Seasons. And, for dinner on Saturday night I told him to go to Hamersley's.
At the time, we were regulars for Friday night dinner at the Hamersley's bar. The General Manager, Deanna Briggs, was an old friend from our Rhode Island days.
On Friday we checked with Deanna and learned that our friends did have a reservation the next night. We told Deanna about the anniversary and the romantic weekend and asked her to take good care of them. As an afterthought, I asked that if there were any celebrities in the room, could she seat our friends near them.
On Monday, I received a thank you from the husband. He said the weekend was a big success and he had racked up major points with his wife.
He thanked me for arranging a special anniversary dessert for them. And, he said, "You'll never believe who sat next to us--- Julia Child!"
I couldn't take credit for the dessert-- that was a gracious gift from Deanna and Hamersley's so my reply to him was, "Happy you enjoyed it. Did not arrange dessert. Did arrange Julia!"
Share your Julia story in the comments below!
Hamersley's has a celebration of Julia going on through the 22nd.
"In honor of Julia's birthday (August 15th) and the new movie "Julie & Julia", Gordon and the Hamersley's Bistro crew will be reaching into Julia Child's recipe folder and cooking up some of her classic dishes. We will be offering Julia specials daily from August 10th to August 22nd. Bon Appetit!
Details:
Hamersley's Bistro
553 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
http://www.hamersleysbistro.com/home/
Over on Chowhound.com people have discussed their Favorite Julia Child "moment".
The September 30, 2009 issue of Wine Spectator is dedicated to Julia including memories from people like Thomas Keller and Jacques Pepin.
