Julia Child was one of the most beloved cooks in American history, famous for making French cuisine fun and approachable for everyday home cooks. But beyond her fancy recipes, she had a surprisingly wide range of food loves — from elegant French classics to fast food burgers and snack crackers.
Her passion for good food, no matter where it came from, is a big part of what made her so relatable. Get ready to discover the 15 foods that truly made Julia Child’s heart (and stomach) happy.
1. Vichyssoise
Silky, cold, and deeply satisfying — vichyssoise is proof that simple ingredients can create something truly elegant. Julia Child adored this chilled leek and potato soup for its smooth texture and refined flavor.
She often praised it for being both sophisticated and easy to prepare at home.
Despite being served cold, vichyssoise feels incredibly comforting. A swirl of cream and a sprinkle of fresh chives on top make it look as beautiful as it tastes.
Julia believed this soup deserved a permanent spot on every home cook’s menu.
2. French Onion Soup
Julia Child reportedly requested French onion soup as her very last meal — and honestly, that tells you everything. Rich, deeply savory, and crowned with bubbling melted cheese over crusty bread, this soup is pure comfort in a bowl.
It was one of her most celebrated recipes and a dish she returned to again and again.
The secret is in the slow caramelization of the onions, which builds an almost magical depth of flavor. Julia taught millions of Americans to be patient with this step, and the reward is absolutely worth it.
3. Reine de Saba Cake (Queen of Sheba Cake)
Julia Child once called this chocolate almond cake “the best chocolate cake you ever put in your mouth,” and she was not exaggerating. The Reine de Saba, or Queen of Sheba Cake, blends dark chocolate, ground almonds, rum, and plenty of butter into something almost impossibly good.
It became one of her signature desserts.
What makes this cake stand out is its slightly fudgy center and deep, complex flavor. Baking it feels like a special occasion all on its own.
Julia believed everyone deserved a slice of something this extraordinary.
4. Boeuf Bourguignon
Few dishes are more associated with Julia Child than boeuf bourguignon. This slow-cooked beef stew, simmered low and long in red wine with mushrooms, carrots, and pearl onions, is the kind of meal that fills a kitchen with an irresistible aroma.
Julia spent years perfecting this recipe so home cooks could confidently tackle it.
Her version became the gold standard for American home kitchens after her famous TV debut. The key is patience — letting time and wine work their magic together.
The result is fork-tender beef in a rich, velvety sauce.
5. Coq au Vin
Braised chicken has never looked — or tasted — more glamorous than in coq au vin. Julia Child treasured this French classic, which combines chicken with red wine, smoky bacon, earthy mushrooms, and sweet pearl onions into one deeply satisfying dish.
She loved how it transformed humble ingredients into something truly impressive.
Coq au vin is also one of those magical recipes that tastes even better the next day. Julia often encouraged home cooks not to be intimidated by it.
With her guidance, it became a weeknight favorite in kitchens across America.
6. Sole Meuniere
The moment Julia Child tasted sole meuniere for the first time in Rouen, France, she later described it as a life-changing experience. A delicate fillet of sole, pan-fried and finished with browned butter, fresh lemon juice, and parsley — it sounds simple, but the flavor is extraordinary.
That single meal sparked her lifelong love of French cooking.
She never stopped raving about it. The dish taught her that great cooking is about quality ingredients treated with care and respect.
Sole meuniere remains one of the most meaningful foods in Julia Child’s entire culinary story.
7. Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Tuna Salad
Even the queen of French cuisine had her guilty pleasures, and Julia Child’s was a straightforward tuna salad made with Hellmann’s mayonnaise. She reportedly preferred this quick, no-fuss lunch over her own homemade versions on busy days.
There is something wonderfully human about that admission from someone who could cook almost anything.
Hellmann’s creamy texture and tangy flavor gave the salad exactly the richness she craved. Julia always believed that food should bring joy, whether it came from a three-hour recipe or a five-minute sandwich.
This was her version of keeping it real.
8. In-N-Out Burgers
Julia Child was not just a lover of fine French cuisine — she was also a devoted fan of In-N-Out Burger. She reportedly kept a handwritten list of In-N-Out locations tucked in her purse, ready to stop in whenever she was nearby.
That detail alone makes her one of the most relatable culinary legends in history.
She never saw fast food as beneath her. To Julia, delicious was delicious, no matter the price or the packaging.
A perfectly made burger with fresh ingredients hit the spot just as much as a plate of coq au vin.
9. Costco Hot Dogs
Julia Child once said she loved Costco hot dogs “as much as a fine French meal,” and fans everywhere nodded along in agreement. The famous $1.50 Costco hot dog is an American institution, and Julia was apparently a proud member of its fan club.
Her appreciation for it shows how unpretentious she truly was at heart.
Juicy, snappy, and satisfying, a great hot dog does not need to be fancy to be fantastic. Julia understood that joy in eating comes from flavor and experience, not from formality.
Costco hot dogs delivered both every single time.
10. Chinese Takeout
During her years living in Asia, Julia Child developed a genuine fondness for Chinese food — particularly Cantonese cuisine. She embraced the bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and clever cooking techniques she encountered, and that love stayed with her for the rest of her life.
Chinese takeout became one of her go-to indulgences when dining out.
Julia always encouraged curiosity about other food cultures, and her love of Chinese cuisine was a natural extension of that philosophy. She saw great food as a universal language worth exploring.
A carton of good takeout was always welcome at her table.
11. Potato Leek Soup (Potage Parmentier)
Long before vichyssoise became famous, there was potage Parmentier — the warm, hearty potato and leek soup that Julia Child called one of her most reliable comfort dishes. Made with just a few humble ingredients, it delivers warmth and satisfaction in every spoonful.
Julia loved how easily and quickly it came together on a weeknight.
She included it in her very first cookbook and returned to it throughout her career. Served hot, it is cozy and grounding.
Chilled and dressed up, it becomes the elegant vichyssoise she also adored. Two great soups, one brilliant base.
12. Chocolate Mousse
Rich, airy, and intensely chocolatey — Julia Child’s chocolate mousse was considered by many food lovers to be the gold standard of the dessert. Her recipe called for real dark chocolate, butter, sugar, and eggs whipped into a cloud-like texture that melted on the tongue.
Making it felt like a small act of artistry.
Julia believed chocolate mousse was one of those desserts that rewarded effort with pure delight. She had a genuine sweet tooth, and this was one of her proudest creations.
Every spoonful was proof that butter and chocolate together can conquer almost anything.
13. Quiche Lorraine
Quiche Lorraine holds a special place in Julia Child’s heart and her cookbook. She championed this savory tart — with its buttery crust, silky custard, smoky bacon, and nutty Gruyere — as the kind of dish that works for any meal of the day.
Elegant enough for a dinner party, easy enough for a lazy Sunday brunch.
Julia’s version stood out for its perfectly balanced filling and a crust that was never soggy. She taught home cooks to blind-bake the shell first, a tip that changed everything.
Once you try it her way, there is simply no going back.
14. Goldfish Crackers
Here is a fun one: Julia Child was a devoted fan of Goldfish crackers and reportedly bought them in the biggest boxes she could find. She served them as Thanksgiving appetizers alongside cocktails, mixing the casual snack with her usual holiday elegance.
Guests apparently loved the unexpected combination.
It perfectly captures what made Julia so special — she never took food too seriously to enjoy something purely fun. Goldfish crackers at a fancy party?
Absolutely. Julia believed that eating should bring happiness, and sometimes happiness is just a handful of tiny orange fish-shaped crackers.
15. Oysters on the Half Shell
Fresh oysters were among the very first foods Julia Child experienced during her legendary first meal in France, and she was instantly captivated. Briny, cold, and bursting with the taste of the sea, oysters on the half shell became a lasting love that stayed with her throughout her life.
That first course changed everything.
She described the flavor as sensational — raw and honest in the best possible way. Oysters taught Julia that great food does not always need cooking or complexity.
Sometimes the ocean does all the work, and all you need is a squeeze of lemon.