[ MUSIC ] >> JOINING ME IN THE KITCHEN TODAY IS JULIA, THE GENERAL DIRECTOR AND CEO OF OPERA COLUMBUS.

JULIA, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I RUN THE OPERA COMPANY, WHICH IS REALLY ONE OF THE PLEASURES IS I GET TO PICK THE SEASON AND REALLY IN RESPONSE TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE AND KIND OF PUSH A LITTLE BIT THE BOUNDARIES.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IS WHEN WE PICK THE SHOW ALL THE COMMUNITY EVENTS WE GET TO BUILD AROUND THE PRODUCTION.

WE LOVE THAT.

WE LOVE TO GO IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND SHOW HOW MUCH WE'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT OPERA.

WE CALL OUR AUDIENCE OPERA CURIOUS.

MEANING, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THEY KNOW OR LOVE OPERA, BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE IT A LITTLE CHANCE, SO I LIKE THAT.

>> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT, THEY'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE.

WELL, I'M INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT TODAY.

>> IT IS ACTUALLY A RECIPE THAT'S DEAR TO MY HEART.

IT IS FRENCH TOAST, AND THE REASON WHY I PICKED IT IS GROWING UP MY FATHER WOULD ALWAYS DO IT FOR ME ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.

SO THAT WAS A REALLY SPECIAL FAMILY RITUAL.

AND WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND, I KNOW IT IS A LITTLE GEEKY.

>> LOVE IT.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS LIKE MY FATHER ACTUALLY TAUGHT PATRICK, HOW TO MAKE THE RECIPE.

SO THAT WAS REALLY FUN, TOO.

>> IT WAS PASSED DOWN TO THE FAMILY.

A NICE WAY TO WELCOME YOUR HUSBAND INTO THE FAMILY, TOO.

>> I GUESS IT'S OFFICIALLY SINCE HE KNOWS THE RECIPE.

>> TELL US WHAT INGREDIENTS WE'LL NEED.

>> FOUR SLICES OF BRIOCHE BREAD, ONE CUP OF MILK, A HALF TEASPOON OF PURE VANILLA EXTRACT, GRATED NUTMEG, UNSALTED BUTTER, A PINCH OF CINNAMON AND A POUND OR FOUR CUPS OF MIXED FRESH BERRIES, TWO TABLESPOONS OF WATER, PLUS THREE TABLESPOONS OF SUGAR.

>> I LOVE HOW SIMPLE THIS IS.

EASY INGREDIENTS.

ARE THERE ANY TIPS YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THIS DISH IS A SUCCESS?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SOMETHING THAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT IS THE FLUFFIER THE BETTER.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPS US SUCCEED IS OBVIOUSLY USING A BRIOCHE BREAD INSTEAD OF A BAGUETTE.

ALSO, IF IT IS STALE, LIKE A DAY OLD, THAT'S GREAT.

IT'S A WAY TO LIKE BRING IT BACK TO LIFE AND UTILIZE ALL THE PRODUCTS.

>> I LIKE THAT.

THAT IS A GOOD WAY.

YEAH, IF YOU HAVE LEFTOVER BREAD, THAT'S A GOOD USE FOR IT.

>> BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON ALL OF THIS, TELL ME ABOUT SOME OF YOUR PROGRAMS.

>> SO ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WAS IT ACTUALLY WAS DEVELOPED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S CALLED SO LONG.

AND IT IS REALLY FOR ADULTS.

IT IS HARDER TO MAKE FRIENDS, RIGHT?

LIKE WE DON'T MEET AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE USED TO IN COLLEGE OR IN SCHOOL.

FOR US IT WAS, AGAIN I WILL USE THE WORD OPERA CURIOUS.

THEY JOIN US ONLINE.

WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT JOIN US FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND LEARNING A SCHOOL THAT IS OPERA ADJACENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S HUT MAKING OR HOW TO SEW POCKETS IN YOUR DRESSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE DO THE ACTIVITY TOGETHER.

WE SHARE A COCKTAIL.

AND IT IS A REALLY FUN WAY TO BOND AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

SO IS IT A DIFFERENT THEME EACH TIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE LIKE TO KEEP IT WITHIN THE THEME OF THE PRODUCTION.

SO IT WAS HOW TO DO PERIOD HATS.

BUT WE TRY TO KEEP IT WITH THINGS THAT YOU FIND IN YOUR HOUSE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

MAKES IT EASY FOR EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED AND MAYBE LEARN MORE ABOUT OPERA.

>> IT'S BEEN REALLY TREMENDOUS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MET THROUGH THESE EVENTS AND THEY COME AND SEE OUR SHOWS OR COME AND GRAB COFFEE AFTER THAT, SO IT'S REALLY NICE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

>> YEAH.

>> I'M GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT THAT.

TOTES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S PREPPING WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE BOWL.

AND THAT, AGAIN, IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT TWIST FROM HOW WE DO IT IN THE U.S., WHICH IS IN THE U.S. WE PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

BUT IN FRANCE, WE ACTUALLY KEEP THE EGGS AND THE MILK SEPARATE, AGAIN, TO MAKE IT FLUFFIER.

>> FLUFFIER, ALL RIGHT.

>> WE'RE ALL ABOUT CREATING VOLUME.

>> OKAY.

SO THE EGGS WILL STAY RIGHT THERE.

IS THERE ANYTHING I HAVE TO DO OR JUST OBSERVE?

>> YOU CAN HELP POUR THE MILK IN.

>> OKAY.

I GOT THAT.

AND THEN I'M JUST GOING TO MIX THE EGGS.

>> MIX THOSE UP.

THEN WILL YOU END UP ADDING THE SPICES TO THE EGGS?

>> YES.

>> I LIKE TO PUT THE VANILLA IN THE EGGS.

YOU CAN ALSO ADD SOME OF THE SPICES.

AGAIN, TOTALLY UP TO YOU.

>> I THINK NUTMEG IS GREAT AND FRENCH TOAST IS JUST A LITTLE EXTRA FLAVORING.

>> BUT REALLY TINY.

>> I KNOW.

I DON'T WANT TO DUMP IT ALL IN.

JUST A LITTLE PINCH.

>> YOU'LL WAKE UP.

NO MORE COFFEE.

>> SO ONCE EVERYTHING IS MIXED TOGETHER AND READY, WHAT IS THE PROCESS HERE?

>> SO WE ACTUALLY LINE THE PAN.

SO YOU WANT TO START WITH THE MILK AND THEN FINISH WITH THE EGGS.

THE REASON WHY THAT IS IS YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE TOO OMELETY.

>> OKAY.

MAKES SENSE TO ME.

WE JUST FLAVOR THE EGGS.

IS THAT -- OKAY.

HAVE SOME VANILLA.

LOVELY.

DO I JUST DO A PINCH OF EACH OF THESE?

THERE IS OUR CINNAMON.

OKAY.

NOW A LITTLE BIT OF NUTMEG.

ALL RIGHT.

PERFECT.

>> ALL RIGHT!

>> THE SECRET IS TO ACTUALLY LET IT SOAK IN, TOO.

SO ABOUT A MINUTE TO SOAK IT.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

SO DO I JUST PRESS IT, FLIP IT.

>> LET IT -- >> DROP IT IN AND THEN FLIP IT OVER?

>> YES.

>> GIVE IT A LITTLE MILK BATH.

I WAS GOING TO TRY THE SAME THING WITH THE FORK, BUT I MIGHT NEED A LITTLE ASSIST.

OKAY.

LET IT SIT IN THERE FOR A MINUTE.

ALL RIGHT.

IT'S GETTING SQUISHY.

ALL RIGHT.

THEN I WILL TRANSFER I INTO THE EGGS.

>> PERFECT.

>> BECAUSE I HAVE THE WET HANDS I'LL JUST KEEP GOING WITH THE SOAKING AND THE FLIPPING.

AND THEN HERE WE GO.

INTO, AND THEN LET IT STRETCH.

IS THAT GOOD?

>> YEAH, THIS IS GREAT.

NOW YOU CAN TRANSFER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I'LL JUST KEEP GOING.

>> PERFECT.

DO YOU FIND THAT THE MORE IT SOAKS, THE FLUFFIER AND CREAMIER THE END RESULT IS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS A LITTLE HARDER TO WORK WITH.

YOU GOT TO EARN IT.

[ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] >> ALL RIGHT.

SO OUR LOVELY FRENCH TOAST IS ALL COOKED UP.

WE'VE GOT IT IN THE OVEN WARMING.

NOW YOU WILL SHOW US THE LOVELY TOPPINGS FOR THE FRENCH TOAST, THIS COMPOST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANOTHER FRENCH WORD.

VERY EXCITED.

SO VERY SIMPLE.

YOU JUST COMBINE ALL THE INGREDIENTS.

SO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FRUITS.

THEN YOU WILL PUT WATER AND SUGAR.

>> SHOULD I GO AHEAD AND POUR THIS ON?

OKAY.

YOU JUST GOT A VARIETY OF BERRIES.

CAN YOU USE WHATEVER YOU HAVE?

THIS IS STRAWBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES.

>> YOU CAN ALSO CHEAT, IF YOU HAVE SOME IN THE FREEZER, TOO.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE COOPER BING COMPETITION.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS OUR 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPETITION, WHICH IS A REALLY BIG DEAL.

AND YOU CAN THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, "AMERICAN IDOL" OR "THE VOICE."

THIS IS THE CLASSICAL MUSIC VERSION.

>> WOW!

>> SO WE HAVE OUR CONTESTANTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, NOT JUST THE UNITED STATES.

AND IT IS FIVE CONTESTANTS.

IT IS A BATTLE ROYALE TO $10,000.

BUT FAMOUS PEOPLE LIKE DENISE GRAVES HAVE WON IT.

AND WHAT I REALLY THINK IS SO SPECIAL IS EVERYBODY COMES TO COLUMBUS TO COMPETE.

>> THAT'S GREAT!

>> THAT'S SO SPECIAL BECAUSE WE TAP INTO EMERGING TALENTS.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE YOU WILL SEE IN A FEW YEARS AT THE MET OR SINGING ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE AND YOU GET TO SEE THEM IN COLUMBUS FIRST, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

>> IT IS GREAT FOR US AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE GET TO SEE THESE STARS AS THEY'RE GOING UP IN THEIR CAREER AND THAT YOU FOSTER THAT.

THAT'S WONDER.

>> IT'S AMAZING, YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THESE BERRIES ARE LOOKING GOOD.

SO AS I THINK ABOUT OPERA COLUMBUS, FOR THOSE OF US WHO AREN'T AS EXPERIENCED, AS FAMILIAR, ARE THERE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO SOME PEOPLE ARE INTRIGUED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING ON STAGE, BEHIND THE SCENES.

SOMETHING THAT'S ALSO SPECIAL FOR COMPANY IS WE HAVE A TON OF ACTIVITIES BEFORE THE SHOW, SO WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ARRIVE AN HOUR EARLY.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE JUST DID THIS BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN COME AND DANCE ON STAGE.

WE HAVE INSTRUCTORS IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW TANGO OR CURIOUS ABOUT IT.

AND THEN THEY GET TO ENJOY THE SHOW.

IN THE FALL WE DID "CARMEN."

THERE IS A WHOLE SCENE WITH TAROT CARDS, SO WE INVITED PEOPLE TO COME EARLY TO HAVE A FREE TAROT READING.

WE DID CINDERELLA WHERE WE HAD A PRINCESS TEA PARTY.

SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WORE TIARAS, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK, I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO THE OPERA.

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE OPERA, WE THINK, OH, IT'S $200.

BUT I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WEAR THEIR PJs TO THE OPERA, WHICH IS AMAZING, BUT IT IS REALLY COME AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE VERY ACCEPTABLE.

WE ARE ACTUALLY CHEAPER THAN A MOVIE TICKET.

SO IT IS $10 IF YOU WANT TO COME.

AND IT'S BEEN TREMENDOUS TO SEE THE RESPONSE AND, YOU KNOW, GET A CHANCE TO SEE OPERA.

THE OTHER THING THAT WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT OPERA, THEY'RE LIKE HOW COULD I POSSIBLY FOLLOW ALONG?

IT IS IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.

WE DO A FEW IN ENGLISH.

WHEN YOU WATCH NETFLIX, THERE IS CAPTIONS.

WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON STAGE.

YOU CAN READ WHILE THE ACTION IS HAPPENING, WHICH IS AMAZING.

>> SOME OF IT, THE STORIES TRANSCEND THE LANGUAGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES TO HELP MAKE IT FUN AND RELAXING AND TAKE AWAY THE STEREOTYPES THAT PEOPLE MAY ASSOCIATE WITH OPERA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE SUPER PROUD WE HAVE A LOT OF GEN ZERS AND MILL LEL YELLS THAT COME TO THE SHOW.

>> AND WE DON'T JUST PERFORM IN THE THEATER.

WE DID SOME SHOWS IN A HOTEL IN DIFFERENT BALLROOMS, LIKE YOU HAD TO FOLLOW THE ACTION.

WE DID 400 WEST RICH WHEN IT WAS ALL THE ARTIST STUDIOS.

SO I THINK PEOPLE WILL ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AND THEY'RE LIKE, OKAY, I'LL GIVE IT A SHOT.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY TREMENDOUS TO SEE OUR OPERA FAMILY GROWING.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

SO CREATIVE, TOO.

>> LOOK AT HOW PRETTY THIS IS.

>> IT IS INCREDIBLE.

>> I LOVE IT.

IT IS SO SIMPLE TO MAKE.

I LEARNED ABOUT KEEPING THE MILK AND THE EGGS SEPARATE.

I'M EXCITED TO MAKE THIS.

WHAT'S ONE MORE THING YOU WOULD LIKE THE AUDIENCE TO TAKE AWAY THAT THEY COULD LEARN AT OPERA COLUMBUS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW YOU ARE SHARING OUR WEBSITE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR IS WE DO EDUCATIONAL TOURS AND POP-UP EVENTS.

THERE ARE A LOT TO THE LIBRARY, TO CONCERTS, WE ALSO HAVE A BOOK CLUB, SO WE DO ALL KINDS OF FUN ACTIVITIES.

I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THERE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST ON THE STAGE.

>> RIGHT.

I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT.

THERE IS ALWAYS WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TASTE THIS.

WE ADDED CREME FRESH, ALONG WITH THE LOVELY COMPOST.

LET'S TAKE A BITE.

>> A QUICK BITE.

>> A QUICK BITE.

OKAY.

HERE WE GO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OH, IT SMELLS HEAVENLY.

[ MUSIC ] >> I HAVE A BIG BITE.

IT'S THAT GOOD.

>> THERE IS A CUSTARDINESS OF THE FRENCH TOAST, WHICH IS AMAZING.

>> YES, VERY DIFFERENT.

>> AND IT IS ACTUALLY SWEET.

PERFECT.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE.

IT'S BEEN REALLY FUN.

[ MUSIC ]