La Pitchoune is a small stucco house that

Julia Child Julia Carolyn Child (née McWilliams; August 15, 1912 – August 13, 2004) was an American cooking teacher, author, and television personality. She is recognized for bringing French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, '' ...

and her husband, Paul, built in the

Provençal Provençal may refer to: *Of Provence, a region of France * Provençal dialect, a dialect of the Occitan language, spoken in the southeast of France *''Provençal'', meaning the whole Occitan language *Franco-Provençal language, a distinct Roman ...

village of Plascassier in France in the early 1960s. La Pitchoune is a Provençal expression for "the little one", deriving from the Occitan word ''pichon''. The cottage was built on property belonging to Simone Beck and her husband Jean Fischbacher with a "handshake" promise they would turn it over to the Fischbachers when they finished their use. The Childs began construction in 1963 and occupied the property shortly thereafter. "La Pitchoune" was often lovingly shortened to "La Peetch", and the Childs visited the property yearly. Here they entertained the culinary likes of James Beard and

M. F. K. Fisher Mary Frances Kennedy Fisher (July 3, 1908 – June 22, 1992) was an American food writer. She was a founder of the Napa Valley Wine Library. Over her lifetime she wrote 27 books, including a translation of ''The Physiology of Taste'' by Brillat-S ...

. Following the deterioration of Paul's health and the death of long-time friend Simone Beck in December 1991, Julia relinquished the property in June 1992. She later recalled that La Pitchoune had lost its "raison d’être" without Paul or Simone and had no regrets giving up the property.

Other residents and usage

In 1993, La Pitchoune became home to the culinary school 'Cooking with Friends in France' run by American Kathie Alex. Alex offered 6-day courses for up to six people. Alex studied under Simone Beck and worked at the nearby Moulin de Mougins. Child once wrote to Alex: “I’m counting on you to teach Americans about butter and cream!” Alex closed the school in 2015, and La Pitchoune was put on the public market. Makenna Held, who, like Child, attended

Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith (Smith College ...

, purchased the house with investors and immediately opened it to the public for vacation rentals. La Pitchoune is the home to the Courageous Cooking School, a five-night six-day cooking experience located on the grounds.

References

{{coord missing, France Houses in Alpes-Maritimes