Who knew a movie about cooking could generate so much buzz? The Julia Child and Julie Powell biopic comes to the big screen this weekend. The hotly awaited film weaves the memoirs of both Child and Powell and it's garnered largely positive early reviews. If you want to get in on the action as early as possible, there are midnight screenings at five theaters around the Valley. Several local restaurants also want a piece of the pie and they're offering Julie & Julia themed dinners. Here's a round-up.
Vincent on Camelback
3930 E. Camelback Rd.
https://www.vincentsoncamelback.com/
Chef Vincent Guerithault at Vincent on Camelback has created a "Julie & Julia" $35 prix fixe dinner menu. Choices include lobster omelette, poulet poele aux herbes and mousse au chocolat. The recipes come from from Child's own book "From Julia Child's Kitchen" with the exception of salmon in puff pastry, which is a dish Chef Guerithault once prepared for Child at a dinner. The special will be offered until the end of the month both at the restaurant and the Market Bistro. And we just heard the dinner comes with a coupon for free popcorn for any Harkins Theatre.
Christopher's Restaurant and Crush Lounge
2502 E. Camelback Rd.
http://www.christophersaz.com/
This Friday, August 7th, Christopher's is offering a special Julie & Julia menu for the opening night of the film. They'll be preparing the menu Chef Gross cooked on Child's own TV show (soup of leeks with summer truffles, alder-smoked loin of beef with red wine and shallot sauce and a chocolate tower with fresh berries for dessert). Dinner is $40, not including tax and tip.
Scottsdale Culinary Institute's l'Academie - Sold Out!
4301 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
http://www.dinewithsci.com/
Lucky ducks who already scored tickets will get dinner AND a sneak preview of the movie tonight, August 5th, for only $20. Dinner is at l'Academie in Scottsdale between 5:30 and 7:30pm, and the advance screening is at 9:00pm at Tempe Marketplace. Sorry foodies, they're already sold out.
