La Pitchoune

La Pitchoune is a small stucco house that Julia Child and her husband, Paul, built in the Provençal village of Plascassier in France. La Pitchoune is a Provençal expression for "the little one", deriving from the Occitan word pichon. The cottage was built on property belonging to Simone Beck and her husband Jean Fischbacher with a "handshake" promise they would turn it over to the Fischbachers when they finished their use. The Childs began construction in 1963 and occupied the property shortly thereafter. "La Pitchoune" was often lovingly shortened to "La Peetch" and the Childs visited the property yearly and entertained the culinary likes of Jim Beard and M. F. K. Fisher. Following the deterioration of Paul's health and the death of long-time friend Simone Beck in December 1991, Julia relinquished the property in June 1992.[1] She later recalled that La Pitchoune had lost its "raison d’être" without Paul or Simone and had no regrets giving up the property.[2]

In 1993, La Pitchoune became home to the culinary school 'Cooking with Friends in France' run by American Kathie Alex. Alex offered 6-day courses for up to six (6) people.[3] Alex studied under Simone Beck and worked at the nearby Moulin de Mougins. Child once wrote to Alex: “I’m counting on you to teach Americans about butter and cream!”[2] Sadly, Alex closed the school in 2015.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Child, Julia; Prud'homme, Alex (2006). My Life in France. Random House. ISBN 978-0-307-27769-5.
  2. 1 2 http://www.alexprudhomme.com/his_work/speeches/tribute_to_julia/tribute.php
  3. ↑ http://cookforfun.shawguides.com/CookingwithFriendsinFrance
  4. ↑ Alex, Kathie. "Cooking With Friends in France". Retrieved 14 September 2015.

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