California Meets Kaiser’s, Chef Bennett Meets his Match
Photo by NATE BILLINGS
The Julia Child Rose
When Julia Child’s niece, Phila Cousins, got married in Sausalito, Calif., master chef John Bennett was there. For the wedding party, he had Kaiser’s ice cream flown in from Oklahoma City.
When the time came to serve it, John stood before the wedding party and proclaimed: “This is Kaiser’s Ice Cream from Oklahoma City, it’s the finest ice cream in the world!”
To which Paul Child quickly shot: “Have you tasted every ice cream in the world?”
Perhaps it was pay back for chef Bennett’s use of the framboise back in Cambridge.
And for those of you who were curious, I present the chef and his master, Riley…
Chef Bennett isn’t the only one who springboarded into a long, illustrious culinary career after his fortuitous meeting with Julia Child. Bob Dickson, the singing chef of Charleston, has done quite well for himself, too. Next time you’re in South Carolina, you can visit his restaurant, which has flourished for more than three decades.
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Comments
When John was learning to cook (before the CIA degree)he melted the legs off my silver well and tree platter from Neiman’s.I took that as an omen as to my future in the kitchen and I have not cooked a decent meal since!He,on the other hand ,is magic in the kitchen and does truly extraordinary things.He and Julia were a real pair!
I would LOVE to have contact info for Chef Bennett!! I am also a CIA alumn and was SO priveleged to get to have dinner with Julia Child in the Escoffier Room. I live in Dallas and think a road trip to share a glass of framboise with Chef John sounds like a great treat!!!!!
Travis-Lee Moore, CPCE
travis-lee@functionsgroup.com
John Bennet, email me. I used to be married to George Suppes many many moons ago in Tulsa and would love to hear from you. Remember the seaplane ride from Tahoe to San Francisco?
[...] assured Beard that no one in Oklahoma was capable of appreciating the French cuisine that their mutual friend Julia Child had made all the rage in discerning kitchens, Beard refused to let Frank Hightower down. Rather [...]
I know John and I can just see him standing before the crowd and making his pronouncement. John has a million great stories — hope we’ll be hearing more of them.