Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Mastering the Art of French Cooking is a two-volume French cookbook written by Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle, both of France, and Julia Child of the United States. The book was written for the American market and published by Knopf in 1961 (Volume 1) and 1970 (Volume 2). The success of Volume 1 resulted in Julia Child being given her own television show, "The French Chef", one of the first cooking programs on American television. Historian David Strauss argues that the publication of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", "did more than any other event in the last half century to reshape the gourmet dining scene."
Madeleine Kamman
Kamman's time in Boston triggered the notorious feud between Kamman and Julia Child, in which Kamman challenged Child's claims of being a "French chef." Kamman undiplomatically pointed out that Child was neither French nor a 'chef,' but was an American cooking teacher instead. According to Kamman, "[w]hen you try to teach a cuisine that is not your own, there is always one dimension missing." Many have attributed Kamman's critique to professional jealousy based on Child's immense popularity with American audiences and the success of her "French chef" brand. Child returned the animosity, refusing to speak Kamman's name publicly and instead called her "that woman." Child refused to dine at Chez La Mère Madeleine, although the restaurant received five stars from "The Boston Globe", four stars from the "Mobil Guide", and accolades from French chef Paul Bocuse.