A Frenchman Lost in Pasadena

Christopher Bonin in front of Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Patricia Smith)

The first time I stayed in Julia Child’s hometown, my “US Mom” (Patricia) warned me, “You’re going to like it here.” And it’s true.

By Christopher Bonin

California, like Louisiana, has a French history. Archaeologist Mark Selverston (Sonoma State University) worked hard to rediscover traces of a French village that became Malakoff Diggins State Park. The first Frenchman to set foot on California soil was Pedro Prat, the surgeon of the Spanish expedition of Franciscan Junipero Serra. That was in 1769.

In America and France, we like to eat. It is related to a connection between the American and French Constitutions—the right to happiness. Eating is an element of daily happiness. Thomas Jefferson’s chef James Hemings brought back many recipes after living in France. Without this talented cook, Americans might never have tasted the fries that we eat in Pasadena, and elsewhere, with a cheeseburger. In Pasadena the cheeseburger was created 100 years ago, in 1924 (1500 West Colorado Boulevard). MFK Fisher, the renowned author of gastronomy, had roots in California (Eagle Rock, Laguna Beach) and also lived in France. Her 1949 translation of “The Physiology of Taste” by French judge and epicurean Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin is a classic.

When I visited Paramount studios, I thought of two women as I passed under the majestic arch: Sarah Bernhardt and MFK Fisher. Thanks to the success of the premiere of, and the profits generated by, the famous French actress, Adolph Zukor was able to create Paramount studios. As for MFK Fisher, she wrote screenplays and dialogue for Paramount Pictures.

At the Norton Simon Museum (411 West Colorado Boulevard) I saw an 1879 portrait of Sarah Bernhardt by Eugène-André Champollion. I also remember seeing that the California International Antiquarian Book Fair in Pasadena (at the Huntington, last year) had several books by MFK Fisker offered for sale.

It’s great that in Pasadena we can have our heads in the stars. The real stars. NASA’s JPL (Caltech) is working hard so that America can move forward in space programs. And don’t miss the JPL tour, if you can get in! I was lucky enough to attend!

I know that American soldiers love to exchange combat food rations with French soldiers when they cross paths. (Everyone loves French food!) I don’t know if the same is true in space…