Learn about the history of the venerated Le Cordon Bleu cooking school through one student’s stories about this Parisian culinary mecca. Kathleen Flinn was a 36-year-old middle manager trapped on the corporate ladder until her boss eliminated her job. Instead of sulking, she took the opportunity to check out of the rat race. She cashed out her savings, moved to Paris and landed a spot at THE cooking school of cooking schools. Kathleen recounts the history of the fabled institution (Julia Child was among the browbeaten graduates), and tells about her own struggles with hot-tempered chefs, competitive classmates and her own “wretchedly inadequate” French.

Recorded Saturday, May 09, 2009 at Chicago History Museum.