Julia Child Restaurant Week in Pasadena Aug. 7-15

The birthplace of Julia Child has eight restaurants taking part in the JC100 – nationwide Julia Child Restaurant Week from August 7th to August 15th. With eight restaurants participating, Pasadena has the highest participation of any city in the United States, more than New York (7), Los Angeles (5), Boston (7) Chicago (4) and Houston (5). Julia Child Restaurant Week is a nationwide celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of America’s first culinary celebrity. 100 restaurants nationwide were chosen to take part in the week-long event that takes place from August 8th to August 15th.

Pasadena Chamber member restaurants a/k/a: an American Bistro, Bistro 45, POP Champagne and Dessert Bar, The StillRoom, The Royce at the Langham and Vertical Wine Bistro will prepare menu items based on Julia Child’s recipes. Pasadena’s renowned Chef Akira Hirose’s Maison Akira is also participating in the Julia Child Restaurant Week, as is Cheval Blanc Bistro.

Pasadena’s Vertical Wine Bistro and chef Laurent Quenioux will be preparing a special menu featuring favorites from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Vertical’s fixed price special Julia Child menu will include Salade Nicoise (tuna with greens, potatoes, egg, and olive), Boeuf Bourguignon (beef stew in red wine with bacon, onions, and mushrooms) and Mousseline au Chocolat (chocolate mousse).



The Royce at the Langham will be offering Rabbit Ragout, a rabbit stew found in Julia Child’s Way to Cook; Bourride (Provencal fish stew with garlic mayonnaise) from the French Chef Cookbook and Floating Island from Julia’s Kitchen Wisdom. The Royce features New American cuisine by Chef David Féau comprised of lighter California fare prepared with classic influences and refined French technique, emphasizing fresh, locally-grown, seasonal produce and the best quality sustainable products from around the world.

Chef James Lambrinos at a/k/a an American Bistro will be serving creamy blue crab salad, petite tilet with green peppercorns, haricots verts and potato galette, followed by a dessert of butterscotch pot au crème.

The StillRoom’s noted chef Sam Goldman will be preparing special menu items inspired by Julia Child that will include paupiettes of sole with salmon mousse and paupiettes of salmon with sole mousse, served with lobster sauce. The StillRoom will also be serving one of Julia's favorite dishes, Rack of Lamb. They will also be serving one Julia Child's favorite cocktails - The Upside-down (or Reverse) Martini.

Chef Steven Lona at Bistro 45 is also planning special dinners for Julia Child Restaurant Week. POP Champagne and Dessert Bar will be offering a Julia Child entrée item along with a special Julia Child dessert item.

Pasadena’s Citywide Cocktail Party celebrating Julia Child’s 100th birthday is also a JC100 event. On August 15th, many of Pasadena’s restaurants will host cocktail parties to commemorate Julia Child’s contribution to fine cuisine and culinary arts, as well as her birth and childhood in Pasadena. There will be a simultaneous toast to Julia Child at each participating restaurant at 7:00 pm. The Citywide Cocktail Party kicks off the six-week SIP-tember celebration of the cocktail and cocktail bracket challenge in Pasadena.

Citywide Cocktail Party participant Toro Sushi will host a Julia Child look-alike contest. 300 Pasadena will be celebrating with specially prepared 1950s appetizers and a 50s-themed bowling and cocktail party. The full list of participants can be found at www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com. Everyone is encouraged to dress for a 1950s, 1960s or 1970s era cocktail party, or dress like Julia Child, and to celebrate responsibly.

The entire list of participating JC100 restaurants can be found at: http://jc100.tumblr.com/post/27121784173/julia-child-restaurant-week-august-7-15-2012. For more information on Julia Child 100th birthday events nationwide visit www.facebook.com/juliachild.

The Pasadena celebration of Julia Child’s birthday is being organized by the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce with our participating restaurants. SIP-tember is collaboration between the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and our local member restaurants with support from Merrill Lynch/Bank of America and the City of Pasadena. The Citywide Julia Child Cocktail Party is part of JC100, a nationwide tribute to Julia Child on the 100th anniversary of her birth.



The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is a professional business organization. Since the earliest days of Pasadena, the Chamber has played a major role in the development of this internationally renowned city. Since 1888, when the organization was founded as the Board of Trade, the Chamber's primary purpose has been the enhancement of both the business climate and the quality of life in Pasadena. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce serves 1500 members.