The film contrasts the life of chef Julia Child (played by Streep) in the early years of her culinary career with the life of young New Yorker Julie Powell (played by Adams), who aspires to cook all 524 recipes in Child's cookbook in 365 days, a challenge she described on her popular blog, which made her a published author.

She attends Le Cordon Bleu to learn French cooking and is initially met with skepticism as she is the only woman in the class.

However, Julia is undaunted and begins collaborating on a book about French cooking for American housewives with Simone “Simca” Beck and Louisette Bertholle.

Although Julia's book is rejected by Houghton Mifflin as too long and complicated, it is ultimately accepted and published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Her husband Eric initially supports her in this and she gains a following, but tension develops when Julie starts to get emboldened and prioritize her blog and readers over their marriage.

Finally, Julie and Eric are visited by Amanda Hesser, a food writer from The New York Times, who features her blog in a story, after which her project begins to receive the attention of journalists, literary agents, and publishers.

A consummate entertainment that echoes the rhythms and attitudes of classic Hollywood, it's a satisfying throwback to those old-fashioned movie fantasies where impossible dreams do come true.

Movie critic A. O. Scott of The New York Times affirmed: "By now [Streep] has exhausted every superlative that exists and to suggest that she has outdone herself is only to say that she's done it again.

"[22] Reviewer Peter Travers wrote in Rolling Stone that "Streep—at her brilliant, beguiling best—is the spice that does the trick for the yummy Julie & Julia.