New Cook in Child's Kitchen

As Julia Child mania continues to overtake the cooking world since the release of Julie & Julia, the woman who currently occupies the late chef’s Massachusetts home is far from a culinary celebrity. Lisa Landsverk now lives in the Cambrdige Victorian house where Child lived and cooked for over 40 years. Landsverk, however, is no foodie and has barely cooked since moving into the famous chef's home. Child’s fans—including one who left Child’s favorite ingredient (a stick of butter) on the fence—have been worshipping the home as a culinary haven. Though Landsverk, an animal-rights activist and a vegetarian, names “pasta, burritos, reservations” as her gastronomic specialties and would not dream of whipping up Child’s famed boeuf bourguignon, she and her daughter, Rachael, recently gave Child’s ratatouille a go. Landsverk’s daughter, Rachael, said she’s been inspired to spend more time in the kitchen so that Child “is not rolling over in her grave.’’