Part 1: Chapter 2, Le Cordon Bleu Summary and Analysis

Julia arrived at Ecole du Cordon Blue on October 4, 1949 to discover that she had signed up for the year long Annee Scolaire course instead of the six week course she thought she had. Although the year long course cost more, both Julia and Paul thought that it was worth it. Her first class was in a sunny room with two women who hadn't done any cooking before. The course was geared toward beginners, and after two days, Julia knew that it wasn't going to work for her.

Julia sat down with Madame Elizabeth Brassart, the school's owner, and was finally allowed to enter the year-long class for professional restauranteurs, taught by Chef Max Bugnard. The class consisted of eleven former GIs, who had cooked during the war and now were using the GI...