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In the News

Julia Child: Celebrating 100 years

On the 100th birthday of one of the most lauded American chefs, a look back at Julia Child’s work and the reopening of the Smithsonian exhibit featuring her extraordinary kitchen.

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Julia Child with chef Pierre Franey on July 6, 1976. Her first show, "The French Chef," debuted in February 1963. It ran for 10 years and won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for educational programming.

James A. Parcell / The Washington Post

Julia Child makes bourride, a Provencal fish stew, on 'The French Chef.' The show followed the publication of her first book, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” in 1961.

Julia Child makes bourride, a Provencal fish stew, on "The French Chef." The show followed the publication of her first book, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” in 1961.

/ WGBH

Julia Child shows a salade Nicoise she prepared in the kitchen of her vacation home in Grasse, southern France, on Aug. 21, 1978. In 1979 she published “Julia Child and More Company,” which won a National Book Award.

Julia Child shows a salade Nicoise she prepared in the kitchen of her vacation home in Grasse, southern France, on Aug. 21, 1978. In 1979 she published “Julia Child and More Company,” which won a National Book Award.

/ AP

A portrait of Julia Child by Hans Namuth, taken in 1977. The print was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery.

A portrait of Julia Child by Hans Namuth, taken in 1977. The print was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery.

/ Hans Namuth/National Portrait Gallery

Julia Child shows off tomatoes in the kitchen at her home in Cambridge, Mass. More so than the tools and techniques she popularized, Child's most lasting legacy may be her spirit and sense of humor.

Julia Child shows off tomatoes in the kitchen at her home in Cambridge, Mass. More so than the tools and techniques she popularized, Child's most lasting legacy may be her spirit and sense of humor.

Jon Chase / AP

Julia Child shares a moment with Jamie Stachowski at 1789 Restaurant in August 2002, during a photo op with the staff who produced her 90th birthday dinner. To the left is Ris Lacoste. Other notable Washington faces in the crowd: Francois Dionot, founder of L'Academie de Cuisine (back row); Cliff Wharton, who became executive chef at TenPenh (third row, second from the right); Mitch Berliner, food entrepreneur of Meat Crafters and co-founder of the Bethesda Central Farm Market (second row, at far left); and Susan McCreight Lindeborg (third row, just behind Berliner).

Julia Child shares a moment with Jamie Stachowski at 1789 Restaurant in August 2002, during a photo op with the staff who produced her 90th birthday dinner. To the left is Ris Lacoste. Other notable Washington faces in the crowd: Francois Dionot, founder of L'Academie de Cuisine (back row); Cliff Wharton, who became executive chef at TenPenh (third row, second from the right); Mitch Berliner, food entrepreneur of Meat Crafters and co-founder of the Bethesda Central Farm Market (second row, at far left); and Susan McCreight Lindeborg (third row, just behind Berliner).

Courtesy of Ris Lacoste

Julia Child joins Martha Stewart in the kitchen to make a dessert on Stewart’s “Home for the Holidays,” on Dec. 11, 1995. Child collaborated with many other chefs, most notably Jacques Pepin on her shows, including “Cooking With Master Chefs,” and “Julia Child & Jacques Pepin Cooking at Home.”

Julia Child joins Martha Stewart in the kitchen to make a dessert on Stewart’s “Home for the Holidays,” on Dec. 11, 1995. Child collaborated with many other chefs, most notably Jacques Pepin on her shows, including “Cooking With Master Chefs,” and “Julia Child & Jacques Pepin Cooking at Home.”

On display at the Smithsonian exhibit is a vintage photo of Julia Child taping a TV show in her kitchen. The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening after being revamped.

On display at the Smithsonian exhibit is a vintage photo of Julia Child taping a TV show in her kitchen. The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening after being revamped.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening in time for her 100th birthday on Aug. 15.

The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening in time for her 100th birthday on Aug. 15.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Smithsonian curators who had negotiated with the 89-year-old icon in her Cambridge, Mass., kitchen in 2001, catalogued the room’s contents, packed them up and created one of the National Museum of American History’s most beloved exhibits, only to disassemble it a decade later for the sake of infrastructure improvement, are reopening the kitchen at its new site, where the museum’s Hall of Agriculture used to be.

The Smithsonian curators who had negotiated with the 89-year-old icon in her Cambridge, Mass., kitchen in 2001, catalogued the room’s contents, packed them up and created one of the National Museum of American History’s most beloved exhibits, only to disassemble it a decade later for the sake of infrastructure improvement, are reopening the kitchen at its new site, where the museum’s Hall of Agriculture used to be.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The piece of wood with 'Julia Child' written on it was used for pulling baking racks from the oven.

The piece of wood with "Julia Child" written on it was used for pulling baking racks from the oven.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Three of Julia's Child cooking shows were televised in the kitchen, amid the utensils, objects and art that made her happy.

Three of Julia's Child cooking shows were televised in the kitchen, amid the utensils, objects and art that made her happy.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Some of Julia Child's measuring cups and utensils used by the chef, a few of which have a yellow 'J' painted on the bottom.

Some of Julia Child's measuring cups and utensils used by the chef, a few of which have a yellow "J" painted on the bottom.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Some canisters are labeled with a simple piece of tape. Child’s French Legion of Honor medal of 2000 and the 1996 Emmy statuette for “In Julia’s Kitchen With Master Chefs” are displayed nearby.

Some canisters are labeled with a simple piece of tape. Child’s French Legion of Honor medal of 2000 and the 1996 Emmy statuette for “In Julia’s Kitchen With Master Chefs” are displayed nearby.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

A fish mold that belonged to Julia Child is on display.

A fish mold that belonged to Julia Child is on display.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Keen eyes can now decipher Julia Child’s handwritten label on the coffeemaker and assess the physics of a countertop stone-crab claw cracker that looks like it belongs beside an architect’s drawing board.

Keen eyes can now decipher Julia Child’s handwritten label on the coffeemaker and assess the physics of a countertop stone-crab claw cracker that looks like it belongs beside an architect’s drawing board.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

On display are four dozen pots and pans that Julia Child used in her kitchen.

On display are four dozen pots and pans that Julia Child used in her kitchen.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Julia Child kitchen is not a walk-through display. It's viewed through windows in order to keep the various pieces inside from being disturbed.

The Julia Child kitchen is not a walk-through display. It's viewed through windows in order to keep the various pieces inside from being disturbed.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 21: Statues on display on the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden in The Great Pavilion at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 21, 2013 in London, England. The Chelsea Flower Show run by the RHS celebrates its 100th birthday this year. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Photos of the day

Chelsea Flower Show, face transplant in Poland, Oklahoma residents cope with tornado aftermath and more.

Lea Bessinger salvages a picture of Jesus as she and her son Josh Bessinger sort through the rubble of the elder Bessinger's tornado-ravaged home Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Moore, Okla. A huge tornado roared through the Oklahoma City suburb Monday, flattening an entire neighborhoods and destroying an elementary school with a direct blow as children and teachers huddled against winds. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Tornado near Oklahoma City causes more damage

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ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 21: Ken Marino, Erica Oyama, Ben Stiller, Chris Harrison, and Mike Rosenstein aceept the Webby Award for 'Burning Love' at the 17th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on May 21, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)

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This combination of Associated Press photos shows left, a neighborhood in Moore, Okla., in ruins on Tuesday, May 4, 1999, after a tornado flattened many houses and buildings in central Oklahoma, and right, flattened houses in Moore on Monday, May 20, 2013. Monday's powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the region in May 1999. (AP Photo)

Okla. tornado loosely followed path of 1999 twister

Monday’s powerful tornado in suburban Oklahoma City loosely followed the path of a killer twister that slammed the area in May 1999.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

FILE - In this undated publicity file photo, members of the Doors, from left, John Densmore, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison, pose for a portrait. Manzarek, the keyboardist who was a founding member of The Doors, has died at 74. Publicist Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald says in a news release that Manzarek died Monday, May 20, 2013, at the RoMed Clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, surrounded by his family. (AP Photo, File)

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A man walks on sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia April 22, 2013. The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is one of the hottest and harshest environments on earth, with an average annual temperature of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 Celsius). For centuries, merchants have travelled there with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted and shaped into slabs, then loaded onto the animals before being transported back across the desert so that it can be sold around the country. Picture taken April 22, 2013. REUTERS/Siegfried Modola (ETHIOPIA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 2 OF 30 FOR PACKAGE 'ETHIOPIA'S ANCIENT SALT TRAIL'
SEARCH 'DANAKIL DEPRESSION' FOR ALL

Ethiopia’s salt trail

For centuries, merchants have traveled to Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression with caravans of camels to collect salt from the surface of the vast desert basin. The mineral is extracted...

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