The United States of Arugula: How We Became a Gourmet Nation
David Kamp

Paul, husband of Julia Child, related this story from her pre-fame days:

Paul described, for the first time, the sight of his wife, in their home kitchen, cooking French food - most likely a cassoulet, given the details: "The oven door opens and shuts so fast you hardly notice the deft thrust of a spoon as she dips into a casserole and up to her mouth for a taste-check . . . Now & again a flash of the non-cooking Julie lights up the scene briefly, as it did the day before yesterday when with her bare fingers, she snatched a set of cannellini [beans] out of the pot of boiling water with a cry, 'Wow! These damn things are as hot as a stiff cock.'"

Sauce maven by day . . . saucy wench by night.

I'm really enjoying this book. J'admets, like an impatient child, I've been reading the chapters out of order because I was too eager to read the section on vegetarian chefs. I may have more quotations to add by the time I finish this.