Special Guests for Bon Appetit & The Italian Lesson 

Opera Providence invites special guests to be part of the Columbus Theatre performances on 10/26 and 10/28. Get a glimpse of Julia Child through their reflections at curtain time. Hear first hand about Julia Child from those who worked and traveled with her. They’ll be available for questions and book signing at intermission.

Friday, 10/26

Nancy Verde Barr

Nancy Verde Barr is the author of  Backstage with Julia: My years with Julia Child (John Wiley & Sons, May 2007), Last Bite: A Novel of Culinary Romance, (Algonquin, June 2006),  and three award-winning cookbooks: We Called It Macaroni, (Knopf, 1991); In Julia’s Kitchen With Master Chefs, with Julia Child, (Knopf, 1995), and Make It Italian, (Knopf, 2002). She was assistant writer to Julia Child for Cooking with Master Chefs (Knopf, 1993). Since 1984 she has published numerous articles in Gourmet, Food and Wine, Bon Appétit, Cook's Magazine, and Fine Cooking.

From 1980 to 1998, Nancy served as Executive Chef to Julia Child for live demonstrations, television, and the monthly features in Parade Magazine. From 1980 to 1990 she was the culinary producer at Good Morning America (ABC) for their weekly food segments and in Italy for their well-received series, Julia Child in Italy.  She consulted, wrote and produced for the cable Television Food Network and was the culinary producer for Julia Child’s PBS series, Baking at Julia’s. She is the on-air host for a series of short television spots, Cooking with Common $ense, which will air in the fall of 2007 on Rhode Island Public Television.

Sunday, 10/28

Fred Plotkin

FRED PLOTKIN was described by “The New York Times” as "one of those New York word-of-mouth legends, known by the cognoscenti for his renaissance mastery of two seemingly separate disciplines: music and the food of Italy."  He has directed opera at La Scala, was the Performance Manager of the Metropolitan Opera, and has worked for more than 40 opera companies around the world. He is a popular guest on the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts. He is the author of Classical Music 101 and Opera 101, the best-selling standard text for learning opera. 

Equally well-known in the culinary world, Fred Plotkin wrote five cookbooks as well as “Italy for the Gourmet Traveler,” the definitive text for eating in Italy. In 2008 he will combine his two loves by leading opera and cuisine seminars in New York and Europe.

(for information: www.theinternationalkitchen.com/opera.htm or call 800/945-8606)