We asked our friends at the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts to verify some of our favorite quotes from Julia Child, the iconic chef, author, and host of WGBH's The French Chef. After all, Julia had a way with words as much as she had a way with making French cuisine accessible to all.
There are a ton of quotes out there attributed to Julia Child, on everything from butter to romance. But we wanted to know: what did she actually say?
Here are 17 bona fide, verified quotes from Julia Child:
1. “If you're afraid of butter, use cream.”
2. “I think every woman should have a blowtorch.”
3. “You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces—just good food from fresh ingredients.”
4. “Always remember: If you're alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who's going to know?”
5. “I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate.”
6. “This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook—try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless and above all have fun.”
7. “People who love to eat are always the best people.”
8. “I believe in red meat. I've often said: red meat and gin.”
9. “The more you know, the more you can create. There’s no end to imagination in the kitchen.”
10. “A cookbook is only as good as its poorest recipe.”
11. “I think careful cooking is love, don't you? The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who's close to you is about as nice a Valentine as you can give.”
12. “Drama is very important in life: You have to come on with a bang. You never want to go out with a whimper. Everything can have drama if it's done right. Even a pancake.”
13. “Celebrity has its uses. I can always get a seat in any restaurant.”
14. “The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook.”
15. “It’s so beautifully arranged on the plate, you know someone’s fingers have been all over it.”
16. “Fat gives things flavor.”
17. “To be a good cook you have to have a love of the good, a love of hard work, and a love of creating.”
Learn more about the life and legacy of Julia Child, explore her recipes, and watch episodes ofThe French Chef on WGBH Passport.
