Ep 18. Comfort Food

Julia & Jacques Cooking at Home season 1 episode 18, titled "Comfort Food," is all about classic dishes that bring warmth and nostalgia to the table. Julia Child and Jacques Pépin, two famous chefs and long-time friends, come together to share their favorite recipes for hearty and comforting meals.

In this episode, Julia and Jacques start off by making a creamy mushroom soup with homemade croutons. They walk viewers through the process, from sautéing the mushrooms and onions to blending the soup to velvety perfection. The croutons add just the right amount of crunch to the dish and make it a perfect comfort food choice for a rainy day.

Next up, Julia and Jacques prepare a classic meatloaf with mashed potatoes. They discuss the importance of using high-quality beef and breadcrumbs, as well as how to coax the right texture out of the meatloaf without it becoming too dense. The mashed potatoes are made with butter and cream, giving them a rich and indulgent flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory meatloaf.

For dessert, the duo makes a baked apple with raisins and walnuts. This dish is a true ode to fall and all of its comforting flavors. They core the apple and fill it with a mixture of raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon sugar before baking it until soft and sweet. The result is a delicious treat that's healthy enough to eat for breakfast and decadent enough to serve for dessert.

Throughout the episode, Julia and Jacques share cooking tips and stories from their respective careers in the kitchen. They discuss how food brings people together and how simple dishes can evoke powerful memories and emotions.

The two chefs have an easy rapport with each other and viewers can't help but feel like they're part of the conversation. Comfort Food is an episode that will leave viewers feeling inspired to get in the kitchen and create their own classic dishes. From the warm and savory mushroom soup to the sweet and satisfying baked apple, this episode is a celebration of home cooking at its finest.