ursalex

Anything by Julia Child.  My favorites are “The Way to Cook,” her magnum opus, and the companion books to her late 1970s PBS series, “JC and Company” and “JC and More Company.”  I still have the paperbound editions.
 
My other favorite is a Time-Life series from the around the late 1970s:  “The Good Cook/ Techniques and Recipes.”  It’s about twenty volumes organized by type of food or occasion and each volume is large size.  The first half of each spotlights various techniques for each food with multiple step-by-step photos; the second half are recipes.  I still use it for reference, especially on techniques, although YouTube videos are probably the way to go.
 
I used to collect cookbooks and had a few hundred.  When I moved in 2020 I purged my collection and only kept the couple of dozen I actually used.  I really regret that purge.  I also have a few thousand recipes I clipped from newspapers or copied from books, organized by topics in file folders.  Even though I do very limited entertaining now, it’s still fun to go through them when I am cooking for friends or to bring.

Anything by Julia Child.  My favorites are “The Way to Cook,” her magnum opus, and the companion books to her late 1970s PBS series, “JC and Company” and “JC and More Company.”  I still have the paperbound editions.
 
My other favorite is a Time-Life series from the around the late 1970s:  “The Good Cook/ Techniques and Recipes.”  It’s about twenty volumes organized by type of food or occasion and each volume is large size.  The first half of each spotlights various techniques for each food with multiple step-by-step photos; the second half are recipes.  I still use it for reference, especially on techniques, although YouTube videos are probably the way to go.
 
I used to collect cookbooks and had a few hundred.  When I moved in 2020 I purged my collection and only kept the couple of dozen I actually used.  I really regret that purge.  I also have a few thousand recipes I clipped from newspapers or copied from books, organized by topics in file folders.  Even though I do very limited entertaining now, it’s still fun to go through them when I am cooking for friends or to bring.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

He definitely got around this past weekend in Palm Springs as I also spent time with him.  Best experience with him yet; he knows how to push all my "buttons."  I was walking funny for the next couple of days, but with a huge smile on my face.  Hire him and have a candid discussion so the session is what you want.  He does NOT disappoint.

He definitely got around this past weekend in Palm Springs as I also spent time with him.  Best experience with him yet; he knows how to push all my "buttons."  I was walking funny for the next couple of days, but with a huge smile on my face.  Hire him and have a candid discussion so the session is what you want.  He does NOT disappoint.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

He definitely got around this past weekend in Palm Springs as I also spent time with him.  Best experience with him yet; he knows how to push all my "buttons."  I was walking funny for the next couple of days, but with a huge smile on my face.  Hire him and have a candid discussion so the session is what you want.  He does NOT disappoint.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

As a relative newbie to the Forum weekends (2015, then not again until 2024) I want to thank everybody involved for making the 2026 Forum Weekend so much fun.  Most thanks go to Oliver for once again organizing the entire affair, making the arrangements for Saturday’s dinner, and all his tireless work to make sure everyone had a great time.  Thanks to purplekow for hosting the opening pool party on Friday afternoon, where we had the occasion to meet and greet each other and get the festivities started in fashion (or lack of it!)  The Saturday dinner was sumptuous and another opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones.  Finally, Sunday’s pool party was fantastic, despite less than cooperative weather. Once again, Oliver offered his lovely condo, and he was greatly aided by wonderful friends, Steve and Nate who hosted, and Nate N who made the eggs and served as paramedic, all of whom hopefully made him feel like a guest in his own home.
Many thanks to all who worked to put this together and all who attended.  I can’t wait until next year.

Recently saw him here in Palm Springs.  Quiet in general, but easily communicative before and during the session so we both had a great time.  I will definitely see him again.

Before he left PS I told Oliver I will be happy to help with the 2026 weekend.

Before he left PS I told Oliver I will be happy to help with the 2026 weekend.

Before he left PS I told Oliver I will be happy to help with the 2026 weekend.

Before he left PS I told Oliver I will be happy to help with the 2026 weekend.

Before he left PS I told Oliver I will be happy to help with the 2026 weekend.

Met him the last time he was in Palm Springs.  Absolutely fantastic session. Can't wait ti explore further with him the next time he is in PS.