French Omelette | The French Chef Season 1 | Julia Child

Julia Child teaches a lesson on how to make a real French omelette. She demonstrates two omelette-making methods, prepares a recipe for a delicious fresh tomato sauce, and shows how to do ahead-of-time omelettes that are gratineed with tomato sauce and sour cream.
About the French Chef:
Cooking legend and cultural icon Julia Child, along with her pioneering public television series from the 1960s, The French Chef, introduced French cuisine to American kitchens. In her signature passionate way, Julia forever changed the way we cook, eat and think about food.
About Julia Child on PBS:
Spark some culinary inspiration by revisiting Julia Child’s groundbreaking cooking series, including The French Chef, Baking with Julia, Julia Child: Cooking with Master Chefs and much more. These episodes are filled with classic French dishes, curious retro recipes, talented guest chefs, bloopers, and Julia’s signature wit and kitchen wisdom. Discover for yourself how this beloved cultural icon introduced Americans to French cuisine, and how her light-hearted approach to cooking forever changed how we prepare, eat and think about food. Bon appétit!
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Facebook: / pbsdistribution.org

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

As a tiny child I watched Mr Rogers, followed by The French Chef. Ruined me for life, I still listen to jazz and cook Julia Childs recipes over a half century later. ✨

[@nickgreen7312]

Doesn’t sound ruined lol

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello Elizabeth, How are you doing?

[@carolharris2357]

Why not? 🤷

[@terristroh3965]

Sounds good to me.

[@jean4186]

I do not think you are "ruined".😸

[@bransrubar]

I love how casual she is. She stumbles over words she laughs at herself, she makes it fun. There was something funny yet awesome about just drinking the tomato juice

[@yavikayadav1373]

7777jjik

[@evasilvalayton758]

I agree. She’s so real.

[@badateverything5392]

Not to mention that editing these would be such a pain in the arse and too expensive for the sake of a few cut words; I love it the way it is :)

[@shalomleftismisalie3470]

So true! She was born in a generation of real people who knew it's absobloodylootely shallow to be vain. Old world values help us to see ourselves without vainglory.

[@kathrynjaneway5346]

Its youtube of its time

[@pavlinaliskova7634]

It's 2023 and I still thinks this far exceeds most of the modern drama/action-filled cooking shows. Amazing. Informative. And I feel I am actually learning something.

[@denniscostabile4264]

She was the first cooking show ever!

[@davey3765]

I just learned in the last 20 minutes more than I have learned in the last year watching other channels.

[@Imnotplayinganymore]

Julia's ability to keep the ball rolling, with no edits, is phenomenal

[@keaton718]

"Why is she out of breath?" - the producer on the Julia Child TV show...

[@patrickduffy4967]

She may have been sick on the day of the recording. She seems dizzy and disoriented, also coughing. She did a great job though as usual.

[@williamdonahue6617]

​@@patrickduffy4967Like many people of that generation, she was a big smoker in those days, but eventually quit

[@karenshort3880]

That because she paid to make it

[@Imnotplayinganymore]

@@karenshort3880 for the life of me I can’t decipher what you mean. Would you care to elaborate?

[@JasonSmith-kl1qx]

I made my first omelet today after watching this video

[@AndrewDAngeloCCpod]

I was fortunate enough to meet her. She was amazing and super sweet.

[@scotnick59]

I had the same (ditto) experience

[@carolharris2357]

That's why she made a good spy.

[@DavidCarlyleCole]

Spy ?

[@Drumulater1]

Well lucky you, she was truly great!

[@wyndonpendergraft]

I always feel like someone asked Julia "how much butter are you going to use?" and she said "yes"

[@batsonjay]

She makes important details so noted, yet easy sounding. She was a gift.

[@lynnadames9526]

Those GREEN STAMPS Y'ALL. That advertisement took me back to my childhood in the early 70's. I swear I can still taste the glue of packing those books for my mama! Good times, great memories.

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello Lynn, How are you doing?

[@GohAhweh]

We had the stamp drawer filled with blue chip and green stamps and the booklets and catalogues

[@EphemeralProductions]

What were they used for? That was a little before my time.

[@MGDownUnder]

​@@EphemeralProductionsget discounts from the grocery or get items if you fill the book - something like that. I was a child when my mother would let me help stick the stamps onto the booklet.

[@EphemeralProductions]

@@MGDownUnder cool

[@thomaslucia3059]

I watched her while I was growing up. She had a familiarity about her that made you feel she was teaching you alone. What a wonderful woman! Seeing the old videos brings me back...and the feeling is just as warm and welcoming as ever.

[@kevinbecker1438]

She did all these shows on the fly. No retakes. Amazing how much she did and not mess up. I mess up omelets all the time. Till now

[@JillClardy]

She rehearsed relentlessly with the help of her husband Paul and committed assistants. They made cue cards, taped instructions on the table top, etc. They choreographed each move and nailed down the timing.

[@mareenorth8790]

Of course she rehearsed relentlessly … what professional wouldn’t? I enjoy these videos SO much because so many mistakes were allowed to happen. I love how she corrects herself when she knows she’s messed up …. Or how she clears her throat when she’s nervous or unsure. I worked for over 30 yrs in live and pre recorded television, and at least 15 yrs working on such cooking shows where we did take after take for the most stupid of infractions. These shows, while very humorous in many aspects, are absolute classics that were not only wonderful lessons in cookery, but history making lessons in television production. Bravo Julia and all her tv crew … I know what it must have taken to get these award winning shows to air. Not to mention there are only two cameras here, both locked off until the very end, which is why she very often looks like she’s not looking into the right camera, or many important processes are missed because the cameras can’t see it. She was BRILLIANT for her time when such shows were truly in their infancy.

[@jody024]

This was not done on the fly. This was all rehearsed very well. She had to because of the "Live to tape" method used for this show. Her later shows were shot the normal way with cuts.

[@hollyprincipato3287]

I think that's how filming was back then. They didn't have all the bells and whistles we have now. Technology has took a few leaps since then. But I still find her inspiring.

[@tootscarlson]

I’m currently watching the Julia series on HBO Max and reliving my love of all things Julia Child.

[@lisacorbin4477]

And French bread because we're being French. She was an absolute treasure 😊

[@ptcreations8947]

And to think when she married Paul.she could barely boil water! She had such PASSION about food life and of course her husband. I remember watching this show as a child in WV and felt like she was so FANCY....and just wonderful. ❤😊

[@marcusperdue5862]

“Today I’m going to show you how to make a French Omelette…(30 seconds later)…you’ve just seen a French Omelette made.” No spatula, no rolling…just jerk and flip. This woman was incredible!

[@ihalia]

I made sure to check the seconds. First omelette 13 seconds, second was at 15 seconds. Now i've sadly had over 10 years that I last cooked on a gas stove but god damn, that pan must had been rly hot.

[@seanbryant2848]

I remember watching a lot of these when they were first run on our PBS television station; I watched them at my Grandmother's house, because she had a television that could receive UHF. Watching them again and again, gives me ever-renewed appreciation for how these shows were produced, and how much Julia Child was a stickler for details, and trying to get things absolutely correct the first time in this videotape process. These shows, as she recounted in several of her writings, were taped in one take only. That included every hiccough, burp, stumble, failed flipping of potatoes, along with every successful and completed dish. One take. No editing. No "cut", no "let's do a retake on that last scene"; none of it. Julia Child was the consummate professional and she blazed the trail in creating the "cooking show" genre. I miss her.

[@MIKECNW]

What was your PBS station?

[@katyb2793]

I can also appreciate how the audience learnt from only watching it once! What a luxury now to be able go back to any parts we missed and watch it again.

[@seanbryant2848]

@@katyb2793 ... You're right... we sat in front of the television with notepad and pencils... we took copious notes!!!!

[@katyb2793]

@@seanbryant2848 oh that's so sweet! I suppose I would have been doing the same thing had I been alive then.

[@atsirk8756]

I watched her show as a teenager with a stressful home life. It was my ASMR way before ASMR was a thing 😊

[@catherineshaw1122]

This just changed my life. I always hated omelettes, only had them overcooked and dry. Knowing that THIS is how they are supposed to be blows my mind. Lunch and dinner will be a whole new ballgame now.

[@Nunofurdambiznez]

Don't leave us hanging in suspense, did you try making an omelette in the French manner, and if so, how did it turn out?

[@ophthodoc]

The typical or common way of serving omelets (country omelet) is also perfectly acceptable and not “improper”. But the French omelets have more broken down curds and are softer in consistency. Glad you like the French omelette. It’s my favorite too.

[@catherineshaw1122]

@@Nunofurdambiznez turns out I can't eat eggs, lol. So that excitement was all for naught.

[@The3Storms]

@@catherineshaw1122 NOOOOO! Oh well, I will eat your share and wish you good health.

[@catherineshaw1122]

@@The3Storms I know, I've been a quiche lover all my life, but now I must admire it from afar, lol. Not the worst thing to befall someone, so I won't complain, but I do miss eggy delights.

[@bsharporbflat8378]

Technique is everything…. If you ever apply for a job as assistant-chef (sous-chef) the first thing some of the chefs will ask you is to make a perfect omelette

[@CantosHype]

@ROFLCOPTERLOL Back in the old school French Chefs and American Chefs with big brains used it was a measuring stick on how well your technique was. I’m sure not all of them did and it’s probably not relative these days. I flunked once as part of my omelette was browned 😂

[@jody024]

The problem: different chefs have varying standards.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

Poach an egg.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

Poach an egg.

[@barbaramundy5039]

I can still hear her voice, even with the sound off. I remember her well, the recipes were a revelation in those days. She had so much charisma and vitality. Sadly missed. 😍

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello Barbara, How are you doing?

[@juliamundt101]

My Dad used to watch Julia Child and The Galloping Gourmet (Graham Kerr) and Mom loved The Jack LaLanne exercise show. Good memories.

[@gailjordan9250]

Presenters have to be extra correct these days to, hopefully, reduce the number of hateful comments they receive. Chef Childs didn't have that problem, so she could be genuine. This video is a complete cooking lesson, and what a teacher she is.

[@samchapple6363]

Yeah everyone had TVs in 63 .. there is a whole social economic story with the birth of French cooking 🙂 Dan Ackroyd satire on SNL playing Julia 😭. ..just a small cut

[@phil20_20]

Well, she was in the OSI during WWII, so it wouldn't be wise to piss her off anyway.

[@sudhiriyer5118]

I wish every profession had a teacher like Julia Child. Learning would be so much more interesting.

[@paulaharrisbaca4851]

I realized how so many of her style of making an omelette I must've picked up from her as a kid when I would pretend I was sick and stay home from school and watch her and also the Gallopping Gourmet and I would go into the kitchen (although I couldn't use the stove, I was too little and I was by myself) and I'd go pretend I was a TV cooking show and make a bowl of cereal and describe it to an imaginary audience. I was a KZbinr before they had such a thing. I'd describe to myself how to open the cereal box and pour the milk on it, with lavish descriptions.

[@lisalove991]

She taught me so much when it came to cooking, I absolutely love how Pluto tv dedicated an entire channel to her shows. She made so many different tv shows throughout the years and I’ve enjoyed all of them. I actually have my daughter and I watch her shows for an hour or two before bed so she can unwind before bed and not have her all hyped up on crazy cartoons lol. I love how she will watch this with me or Bob Ross.

[@LP-ow3kd]

Pluto has a julia child channel??? Awesome!

[@CantosHype]

Right!!! Who needs sleep apps just put on good ol’ Julie and become instantly relaxed (even though her work stations drive me nuts).

[@hollyprincipato3287]

Loved Bob Ross. Very talented!

[@kellyspann9845]

Everything she says or does I catch myself smiling or laughing !!! She was wonderful.

[@CantosHype]

At age 8 watching repeats she is the reason I wanted to be a Chef which I passionately did for 30 years and her approach to everything food related and it didn’t always have to be perfect as long as it was proper.

[@RRaquello]

My Mom worked in an S&H Green Stamps Redemption Center when I was very young. I remember being there one day when she was at work, and it was very busy.

[@lisalove991]

Crazy because her book has all of this in there, down to the explanation of what pan to use to make the best French omelettes. Best $24 I spent in a long time 😊

[@clemdane]

What pan is it??

[@cyan_2169]

@@clemdane she literally explains it in the video

[@pphedup]

What brand of pan?

[@crownjewel1969]

Julia just taught me how to "properly" fold an omelet. Tres bien!

[@NikoHL]

Wonderful.. Believe it or not I'm new to Julia Child! Incredible as it seems, Julia isn't well known in UK, but I can see she was an incredible chef & teacher. Will try some of these recipes. ,RIP Julia x

[@hollyprincipato3287]

My mom and I watched a few. My gosh...too long ago ...lol

[@ExcelsiorElectric]

I love the sound of her voice, and how she pronounces "buht-herr". ❤️

[@robertdoherty2001]

I like how she pronounces ‘menu’ as ‘main-oo’

[@carlmcclain6934]

And what about “ta-matoe” I love her!

[@Readysettaste]

I love her, but she doesn’t speak about tempurature

[@ade2487]

Subtle British influence in her accent

[@erichenderson6515]

"The French Chef" is one of the best cooking shows in Black and White format.

[@blktauna]

in any format.

[@MossyMozart]

@Eric Henderson - Wasn't Julia the first TV chef?

[@erichenderson6515]

@@MossyMozart actually, it was James Beard, who had the very first cooking show in 1946 in America. It was called "I Love To Eat". So, James Beard was America's first TV Chef.

[@brad1038]

Gosh she was just so charming.

[@richarddaigle8777]

Just learned that she worked for OSS before being a published cook, she invented a shark repellant that is still used today.

[@SarSantiago]

Julia seemed like a real salt of the earth lady. Just charming and real, drinking tomato juice and making omelettes look tres chic ✨🍳

[@kell_checks_in]

I'm amazed she's able to work on those old electric elements. They took about eight days to heat up and just as long to cool down.

[@gaggymott9159]

I visited my French penpal from school in 1997. Coming from Northern Ireland, I was simply horrified to learn that the French could eat eggs nearly raw! Then, Antony's Maman made me a 'baveuse' omelette for lunch one day....Creamy, delicate, flavoursome, tender and delicious! Thank you, Mme Monique❤ 😊😊😊

[@lilane259]

Wow, this woman just looks at the eggs and they become an omelette😂😂😂

[@roberthigbee3260]

Wow, lots of great technical details, proving that cooking is just not a list of ingredients, it’s timing timing timing! Interesting tip about rubbing salt on an overnight-oiled metal pan to get a non-stick surface.

[@batsonjay]

+1 on the pan seasoning. All the “chef” articles / videos mention how making an omelette was an important interviewing technique for years, *including* seeing whether a candidate knew how to season a pan. But - nobody ever said how to season a pan. Until … Julia!

[@laurapaquette4485]

Watched Julia Child on PBS (channel 2 in Bsn) we only had 2,4,5,7,38 & 56 in the 60’s. 2022, still enthralled. Never gets old. Love her🇱🇷❤️

[@paulbartlett3200]

Absolutely right on about those Bsn channels in the 1960s,yes, NET prior to PBS too as you know,& somewhere along the line WGBX 44 came online which was as I recall, basically repeats of earlier on 'GBH

[@Imnotplayinganymore]

Ha, we had 3, 10, and 13 plus channel 40 that we were not allowed to watch because it was "communist". Of course I watched it when my parents were out and that's how I got to watch Julia!

[@MIKECNW]

@@Imnotplayinganymore Now how was in communist?

[@Imnotplayinganymore]

@@MIKECNW I think it was a knee-jerk response from my very conservative parents. Anything that included men with long hair was communist. They were lovely folks who kept me housed and fed for 18 years, but they had some funny ideas...

[@MIKECNW]

@@Imnotplayinganymore But why PBS or NET as it was known when these early FC episodes were made? Plus how were the other channels any better?

[@rickmiller7985]

Julia was my first love. She taught me to cook. There will never be another like her.

[@dowhit]

Same

[@erichenderson6515]

IKR, Julia Child was a culinary angel on earth.

[@lindanolan6629]

Ahhh this takes me back. My mom cooking supper, while I watched sesame street, mr.rogers and of course Julia child.i almost felt like she was like favorite aunt or some part of the family that showed up every evening around suppertime . she's missed on t.v.

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello Linda, How are you doing ?

[@stephanieschultz3606]

Rubber omelet you get on the train! Love this woman.

[@m.theresa1385]

There was a later episode of Julia preparing French omelettes for a buffet style dinner party. I think she made over a dozen omelettes with different fillings. She was amazing!

[@maryvalentine9090]

I love that episode. She was so amazing.

[@CreachterZ]

Do you possibly have a link to the video? It sounds lovely.

[@goldilox369]

​@@CreachterZit's in the playlist...I just watched it yesterday.

[@djakartanad5404]

I LEARNED SO MUCH IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. GENIUS!

[@purplelilac1387]

I love watching Julia Childs cook! She was a real cook! No games or gimmicks just good cooking!

[@ginamartin132]

What a gift, to be able to go back and see Julia’s videos. Even some of her methods might have been updated, her common sense, humor, and ability to reach to the every day person who wants to cook, what an impact she has had. So happy to be able to see these videos! Thank you!

[@hollyprincipato3287]

That's why I love KZbin. You can find a video to almost anything

[@MOYOyoga]

Such an endearing woman. A national treasure.

[@727100bear]

I miss Julia so much .. she shared her gift of French culinary arts so kindly and naturally as only she could R.I.P. dear I’m so glad we still have these recordings to watch and enjoy

[@rowan9653]

made three omelettes watching this, first one scrambled eggs, second one raw in the middle, third one pretty good! will keep practising!

[@CanadianMonarchist]

A French omelette is supposed to be raw in the middle. It’s kind of a cross between what we think of as an omelette and scrambled eggs.

[@BasilDaChefcario]

I absolutely love listening to her talk, I could listen to her talking about food for literally hours, her voice has this calming, gentle quality to it. I wish I could of met her.

[@sherripratt4422]

She was adorable

[@BOOMERANGxbrb]

good thing she demonstrated flipping it out of the pan three times. i’ve been eating the perfect french omelette straight out of the pan this whole time.

[@pphedup]

😅

[@azsunburns]

She melts my heart like butter & I have 100 pieces of vintage Desco Ware and French copper to prove it

[@kellieeverts8462]

One of my favorite people to watch on tv as a kid

[@elinstar6034]

Ahh, my mum had a dedicated omelette pan we weren't allowed to use, I have it now. She taught me to season a pan with salt too. 😊

[@halfrutter2226]

Even as young kids, my brother and I loved watching Julia cook. Then we’d play that we were cooking. 😁

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello, How are you doing?

[@erinnola-raised6543]

The Pot Shop in Boston. I ordered Omelet pan they make designed by JC :)

[@ldballoon4]

I miss you Chef, Child. Great French recipes and techniques. You have to learn the techniques, She is very informative with no bullshit approach to cooking. Check out her documentary. Every foodie, cook, chef should memorize 3 recipes from her painstaking compilation book," Mastering the Art of French Cooking". RIP, my Chef.

[@jlastre]

She has better technique than most of the celebrity chefs out here now, at least making a French omelette.

[@EmperorMingg]

Wonderful woman… this was groundbreaking stuff at the time. God rest her soul

[@dise6692]

Me too.I am stuck in the kitchen forever….cook everyday thanks Julia

[@ericwilliams8420]

Man she was something special. Grabbed her cookbook, can't wait to cook with her.

[@timothyogden9761]

What a GEM this woman is! ALL good people should aspire for her kindness and knowledge.

[@MichaelTracyCA]

Julia is the best! She always makes me smile. 🙂

[@ferrosjewellers4558]

Epic Rap Battles of history - has a good dual between Julia and Gordon Ramsey. Very accurate.. Lol😂

[@chambersstevens3135]

Thanks so much for posting these episodes!

[@1DrBar]

Yes. I get turned off of many modern chefs and their "dude" attitude. She was a groundbreaker who changed the cullinary trajectory of Americans, at least a little bit. She was a priceless gem.

[@gittekjaerulff9511]

LOL@a half hour lesson on frying pans and omelettes! Julia is not only adorable, she is a treasure trove of cooking knowledge!

[@Buddylucydaisysocks]

These make me happy. She’s like a grandma who would make you the best cookies.

[@nicolem.6431]

Just absolutely charming and knowledgeable. I need an omelette pan now.

[@7karlheinz]

This is from season 1/episode 4. 1964 She changed the technique for the 1972 color version (season 9/episode 18) where she didn't use a fork, but let the eggs cook for a few seconds then vigorously jerked the pan back and forth. She also mentioned the fork technique but most of the color episode featured the jerking method.

[@catherineshaw1122]

She made the first one in this episode without the fork, using that technique as well. So she always alternated between the two.

[@MIKECNW]

I think you mean 1962 or 63.

[@stillkidrauhl100]

Perfect!!! thank you!

[@melodyzieg]

Thank you for sharing! Julia is amazing!

[@MossyMozart]

She only used eggs with a slight beating - no water, no milk, no salt. Then once the eggs hit the pan, the pan no longer touches the burner; it merely dances in the air. No wonder my omelets don't turn out right - I do it all wrong! (I didn't watch the episode all the way through - not a meat-eater.) Also, TV chefs always pontificate about cracking the eggs on a flat surface, but I see Julia authoritatively smack them sharply on the edge of the bowl! Seems intuitive to me.

[@pfranks75]

Learned to cook watching this series! It doesn’t seem like over 50 years ago. A great cook doesn’t have to be fluent in French but it helps!

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello Patti, How are you doing ?

[@8nansky528]

Old but gold I ADORE READING

[@kerinohwithatwist]

I remember discovering the love of cooking by watching Julia Childs cook on tv. Her show was the first time I needed to remember the time so I could watch her on tv a free school.

[@streetcat1510]

I’ve just watched 4 highly enjoyable episodes of the new HBO series JULIA about the life of this quirky American Woman and come to YT to see if it’s true.

[@kellyjohnson3617]

French omelets are the best. I learned from a French chef in LA. I use a silicone spatula and ceramic pan these days. My filling of choice put in like she did the ham, but I use boursin cheese from Trader Joe’s. So creamy and perfect herb combo in the cheese to make the eggs taste amazing. No salt needed.

[@kellieeverts8462]

Such coordination

[@RockStop22]

We still love you Julia Child. 💞

[@joyellan]

I am super interested in trying this technique. I just love how she is imperfectly perfect.

[@lilyjay2118]

Im watching her show on HBO and came here to learn how to make those eggs. Gonna make them for lunch!

[@alexsarullo3753]

This is the best omelet I have ever made, much love from Canada.

[@cato451]

Fantastic technique. She’s the greatest.

[@dominiquepeytraud406]

Awesome! Thanks

[@1DrBar]

Magnifique. Merci beaucoup.

[@kathleenuttinger5889]

Wow! What a phenomenal teacher!

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello Kathleen, How are you doing ?

[@jeanettemelich3202]

You will never regret watching this channel.

[@jchow5966]

She was fantastic!!!!! 💟

[@genevievesmith6294]

She is the most amazing person I love love love her

[@Dahalx]

That woman just made an omelet without using a spatula.

[@dianejones1413]

There's no doubt about it, she knows her stuff!

[@NikoHL]

Just tried to make a French Omelette. I was a bit worried the eggs wouldn't have cooked enough but it was great! . so much better than my previous rubbery omelettes I've been making for years!

[@sherrysmithrice1973]

I love Julia.

[@Sierrahtl]

Brilliant..

[@ophthodoc]

Wow this meal is so me….I first learned how to make French omelettes from Jacques Pepin, but how awesome is this that you can make these omelets ahead and serve them all hot together? The whole spread is very sophisticated and clean. Sure to impress. PS I’ve made French omelets for my family no they are aghast at how wonderful they are. You really need to try it if you haven’t.

[@nicolasbogdanovic3753]

Julia child is the bob Ross of cooking

[@catherineshaw1122]

Bob Ross is the Julia Child of painting, lol.

[@Master...deBater]

@@catherineshaw1122 Dammit...you beat me to it!

[@ChibiPanda8888]

Her and Cowboy Kent Rollins, who you can find here on KZbin. Same kind of vibe.