One of the Great Ones . . .

Today is a very sad day for those of us who share a passion, not merely a love, for food, wine, and friendship. The grande dame of the American kitchen and the woman who singlehandedly introduced a nation raised on Swanson frozen dinners to the simple glories of coq au vin and pate choux, Julia Child, died Thursday in her sleep at her home in Santa Barbara at the age of 91.

Julia, you will be missed. And just for the record, I never made your last name plural.