Binding Agents: A Cook/Book Shop
908 Christian StreetJulia Child's kitchen is an iconic space, and its careful preservation owes a great deal to Paula J. Johnson, a curator and public historian at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Johnson was one of the staff members who collected the kitchen in 2001 and brought it to the museum, allowing legions of fans to experience the heart of the Childs' home and epicenter of Julia's work. Now we can dive even deeper to explore its more than 1,000 parts and pieces and its influence on the ways we cook today with Johnson's beautiful book, Julia Child's Kitchen!
Join Binding Agents, Johnson and Les Dames d'Escoffier Philadelphia for a talk and signing celebrating the legacy of Julia Child and the kitchen that was a familiar and beloved backdrop to her extraordinary life.
Prices are inclusive of ticket fees. Entrance to the shop requires one step up. Please contact us at hello@bindingagentsphilly.com with any questions or accessibility needs; we'd be happy to help.
About the Book
Julia Child's Kitchen is a gorgeous dive into the beloved cookbook author and television star's favorite place in the world—her home kitchen—and how this space has influenced the ways we cook today. Including interviews with famous chefs who knew Julia well, commentary on her favorite kitchen gadgets, and a stunning array of photos, Julia Child's Kitchen illuminates the stories behind the room's design, use, and significance, revealing how Julia Child continues to impact food and cooking.
Julia Child's 20' x 14' kitchen was a serious workspace and recipe-testing lab that exuded a sense of mid-century homey comfort. It has been on display at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., for most of the past twenty years, and museum goers have made it a top destination.
Between lively narrative, compelling photography, and detailed commentary on Julia's favorite kitchen gadgets, Julia Child's Kitchen illuminates the stories behind the room's design, use, significance, and legacy, showing how deeply Julia Child continues to influence food in the present.
The kitchen contains more than one thousand parts and pieces--tools, appliances, utensils, furniture, artwork, knick-knacks, books, and bits of whimsy--all reflecting Julia's status as an accomplished chef, gastronome, delightful cooking teacher, television trailblazer, women's advocate, mentor, and generous, jovial friend.
About the Author
Paula J. Johnson is a curator and public historian at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. She conducts research and collects objects relating to the history and culture of American food and wine and serves as the Director of the Smithsonian's Food History Project. Johnson was one of the staff members who collected Julia Child's home kitchen in 2001 and led the team that created FOOD: Transforming the American Table, a multi-layered exhibition that explores the major changes in food production, distribution, and consumption in the United States since the 1950s. She has shaped and contributed to many public programs on food history and the Smithsonian’s annual “Food History Weekend.” Johnson is the author of three books, including Julia Child’s Kitchen: The Design, Tools Stories, and Legacy of an Iconic Space, published by Abrams in 2024. She received the Smithsonian Distinguished Scholar in the Humanities Award in 2020.
Johnson holds a B.A. in English from Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, Minnesota, and an M.A. in Folklore and Anthropology from the University of Texas, Austin. She began her museum career in 1981 at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Maryland, and has worked at the Smithsonian since 1991. Johnson is a member of the Association for Food and Society and Les Dames d’Escoffier. She serves as a member of the editorial collective for Gastronomica: The Journal for Food Studies and the Board of Governors of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
About Les Dames Philly
Les Dames d’Escoffier is a world-wide 501(c)3 non-profit philanthropic society of professional women who are leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage, and hospitality. The Philadelphia Chapter is made up of a diverse group of chefs, winemakers, restaurateurs, writers, food artisans, and many other food professionals dedicated to giving back to their community. Our mission is to recognize and champion women in culinary fields and support the next generation through mentorship and scholarship.
Wed, May 14, 2025 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Binding Agents: A Cook/Book Shop
908 Christian Street
Binding Agents is Philly's bookshop for cooks and eaters. Located in South Philly’s culinary epicenter, the 9th Street Italian Market, we’re your go-to source for new cookbooks and food-focused reads, plus gifts and goods for making, serving and enjoying. We’re independent, women-owned, fun & funky. Learn more at bindingagentsphilly.com.
Find more Binding Agents Events and Community & Culture events in Philadelphia