Ep 8. The French Chef: The Shrimp Show

The French Chef with Julia Child season 4 episode 8, titled "The French Chef: The Shrimp Show," is a cooking show in which the legendary chef Julia Child teaches viewers how to prepare a variety of mouth-watering shrimp dishes. Throughout the episode, Julia shares her expert tips and techniques for selecting, cleaning, and cooking different types of shrimp, including large prawns, tiny shrimp, and jumbo shrimp.

In the beginning of the episode, Julia introduces viewers to the various types of shrimp available in the market. She explains how to choose the freshest and best quality shrimp, regardless of their size and shape. She then proceeds to demonstrate how to clean the shrimp and remove their shells and veins.

Next, Julia shares a simple but delicious recipe for Shrimp Paste, a classic French appetizer. She shows viewers how to grind the cooked shrimp into a smooth paste and flavor it with herbs, garlic, and lemon. She also suggests different ways of serving the shrimp paste, such as on toast points or as a dip for vegetables.

In the middle of the episode, Julia teaches viewers how to cook Shrimp Newburg, a luxurious dish that originated in New York City in the late 1800s. She starts by sautéing the shrimp in butter and then adding a rich cream and sherry sauce. As she cooks, Julia shares her tips for achieving the perfect texture and flavor.

Later in the episode, Julia prepares a lighter and simpler recipe for Shrimp Curry, a dish that combines tender shrimp with fragrant spices and coconut milk. She demonstrates how to make the curry sauce from scratch, using ingredients such as onions, ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. She also explains how to adjust the heat level of the curry to suit different tastes.

Throughout the episode, Julia emphasizes the importance of cooking shrimp delicately and quickly, in order to preserve their tender texture and sweet flavor. She advises viewers to avoid overcooking shrimp, as they can become tough and rubbery.

In the final segment of the episode, Julia demonstrates how to cook Shrimp in Beer, a simple and flavorful dish that she learned from a Belgian chef. She shows viewers how to simmer the shrimp in a mixture of beer, onions, garlic, and herbs, until they are just cooked through and infused with the beer's malty and yeasty flavors.

As the episode comes to a close, Julia summarizes the key lessons and techniques she has shared throughout the show, and encourages viewers to experiment with their own shrimp recipes using the skills they have learned. She bids farewell with her trademark enthusiasm and warmth, inviting viewers to join her once again on The French Chef.