Julia Child Week: It's On!

Julia with Chef Bugnard in Paris, 1956/Paul Child via Facebook

By Lesley Balla

Today marks the first day of Julia Child Week, a country-wide celebration of one our favorite doyennes of French-American cuisine. Pasadena, where Child was born 100 years ago on August 15, celebrates in grand style with a city-wide toast, and spots like Bouchon have special Child-inspired menus planned through next Wednesday. Here are five more spots celebrating around LA:

Vertical Wine Bistro has a three-course menu throughout the month of August featuring some of Child's cookbook favorites: Salad nicoise, beef Bourguignon and chocolate mousse. $36 per person; $26 more for wine pairings (70 N. Raymond Ave.; 626-795-3999)

Tavern in Brentwood will have vichyssoise with fried leeks, moules frites or grilled lamb chops, and chocolate and almond cake with vanilla ice cream from August 7-15. $45 per person (11648 W. San Vicente Blvd.; 310-806-6464).

Jean Pierre Bosc, exec chef of Kendall’s Brasserie and Bar, will create one new dish a day for the week, including coq au vin, banquette of veal, and duck a l'orange, all taken from books like Mastering the Art of French Cooking (135 N. Grand Ave.; 213- 972-7322).

Comme Ca has dishes like lobster thermidor and beef Bourguignon running as specials this week (8479 Melrose Ave.; 323-782-1104).

At Jar, get a butter lettuce salad, coq au vin, and Suzanne Tracht's chocolate pudding for $39 per person, now until Friday (8225 Beverly Blvd.; 323-655-6566).

And if you're planning a little Julie & Julia-type action at home, prep by watching all of the special Julia programming planned this week on PBS.