History of La Pitchoune | La Peetch
The most well known name of the house is “La Pitchoune,” which roughly translates to “little one.” It’s a quaint little cottage that Julia Child built as a gift to herself and her husband, using a portion of proceeds of the monumentally important cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
The house itself was constructed between 1964 and 1965, just as Julia’s star was on the rise. For Paul and Julia, the house became a refuge from Julia’s busy life back in the United State. Paul would paint or take photographs. Julia certainly worked whilst she was here, but she could also go to the market without being recognized. They also stocked the house with books to read and cookbooks to experiment with, another aspect of life that continues to this day.
Over the years, countless luminaries darkened the doors of La PItchoune. James Beard visited many times. As did Richard Olney and M.F.K Fisher. In the early years, Robert Penn Warren lived nearby. The conversations, not to mention the meals, that occurred within these walls (as well as the terrace) is staggering to consider.
These days ‘La Pitchoune’, affectionately named ‘La Peetch’ as a nickname, is both a vacation home and a refuge in the French Riviera operated by Okay, Perfect—a hospitality brand collective founded by entrepreneur Makenna Held & her husband Chris Nylund.
Our way of celebrating her storied legacy is by using the space well, and keeping her in the best shape humanly possible.
Each week we invite guests to come and cavort. To celebrate the celebrations that have come before; to create new dishes using our own trust and convictions; & to explore new flavors. To rejoice in both the successes and the failures.
Life here at La Peetch (then and now) runs on its own time. Come on in, allow us to pour you something for you to imbibe, slow down, and unwind.
We can’t wait to welcome you.
Frequently Asked History Questions
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Legally? No, they did not. Julia paid for the construction of the house with a portion of her proceeds from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The house was built on land owned by her friend and collaborator, Simone Beck, in the South of France. Not only did Simone and her husband Jean allow them to build on their land, they supervised the construction and managed the house when Paul and Julia were not there.
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That’s a complicated question. Have things in the house changed since it was first built in 1965? Of course! Is the kitchen in the same place as it was when it was constructed? Absolutely! Are many of the features original? You bet!
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Yes, each room has a Dyson hair dryer and a Dyson Air Wrap.
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For the first decade, they gleefully spent summers and winters at La Pitchoune, choosing to revel in Julia’s anonymity (most French have no idea who she is/was) and the weather in the South of France. As Paul’s health declined, they spent less time at La Pitchoune in the 1980s, visiting for shorter stints. In 1992, Julia visited for the last time, which opened the door for the next owner, American Kathie Alex.
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American Kathie Alex bought La Pitchoune in the early 1990’s and ran a residential cooking school out of the house for over a decade. She made several modifications to the house to accommodate guests for the cooking school, including installing en suite bathrooms for each bedroom, installing the pool, and upgrading the grounds and gardens. Kathie put the house up for sale in 2015 and in a fascinating turn of events, Makenna Held was able to purchase the house and set up her/their own cooking school.
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The short answer is perseverance and resourcefulness. (Chris wrote this, not Makenna to be clear) Like countless others, she learned about the house from a viral New York Times article about the house going up for sale. The big difference is that she was able to make it happen.
If you want to learn more, you can read about this journey in her first cookbook, Mostly French, which will be available on Simon Element in April 2025. You can pre-order it now.
Our Menagerie
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Penelope Jane Nylund
MICRO BERNEDOODLE
total fluffer nutter -
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Matilda Lane
YORKIE FROM HUNGARY
Might not be a yorkie -
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Wilson
He's new, and not the brightest bulb in the drawer. But he's cute enough.
