By Lee Dean

Well, of course you can't actually dine with Julia Child. But you can enjoy a meal inspired by the movie "Julie & Julia," at the Le Cordon Bleu restaurant in Mendota Heights on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Julia Child learned how to cook while at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris (in a kitchen of all men who weren't so happy to see her). In honor of that connection, the local Le Cordon Bleu will offer a three-course lunch and dinner for a minimum $20 donation which includes a ticket to an advance screening of the movie, which opens Friday. All proceeds from the meal go to the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis.

Such a deal! The meals begin at either noon or 6 p.m. and include chilled watercress soup, boeuf bourguignon and chocolate cream pie. The movie screening starts at 9 p.m. at the Regal Eagan 16 that same evening. The restaurant is the Minnesota Room at Le Cordon Bleu, 1440 Northland Dr., Mendota Heights. Call 651-286-2400 for reservations.