Napa Museum tantalizes with ‘France is Feast’

Julia and Paul Child photo exhibit picture perfect in Yountville|

While the tragic shooting March 9 of three counselors by their former patient, Albert Wong, at the Pathway Home for veterans in Yountville has left many Sonomans reeling, it’s important to remember that those closest to the tragedy still need the community’s support.

The beautiful grounds of the veterans home are shared by the Napa Valley Museum. A museum staffer told this writer last Sunday that the mood is still “quite subdued,” and that your visit to the museum could help cheer up people there.

The principal exhibit at the Napa Valley Museum on Veterans Home land is “France Is a Feast: The Photographic Journey of Paul & Julia Child” in the main gallery.

The fabulous exhibit, which is focused on Julia and Paul Child, France and food, is curated by Napa resident Katie Pratt. Pratt also co-authored the book “France is a Feast” with Alex Prud’homme, Paul Child’s grandnephew.

After his diplomatic service in Europe, Paul Child devoted himself to helping his wife, Julia, in her culinary and writing endeavors.

While at it, he photographed her and themselves in all sorts of lovely scenes, including Julia and her sister Dorothy sunbathing on an old Moorish tile roof in Marseille, and an idyllic scene of Paul and Julia dining on a small deck overlooking the city below with half-full glasses of “wine,” which looks more like cloudy Pastis, on their lunch table.

The little shop offers all of Prud’homme and Pratt’s Julia Child books as well as a Julia Child cookbook for children.

The exhibit has been extended through Sunday, May 20.

The museum recently added an audio tour with interviews of Child, Jacques Pépin, Thomas Keller, Cindy Pawlcyn, and “Julia & Jacques” producer Susie Heller.

After you have enjoyed the Julia and Paul Child show, pay a visit to the history-of-chocolate exhibit downstairs called “The Art of Chocolate Celebration & Sale.” Enjoy the old chocolate molds, some photos of the chocolate making process, and works of art made in chocolate. Sale of chocolates made in Napa Valley at Woodhouse Chocolates, Earth & Sky, and the CIA at Copia at the admissions desk. Admission $10, $5 seniors, additional $5 for audio tour.

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville. Advance tickets available at napavalleymuseum.org/Julia. 944-0500.

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