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

Ephron's screenplay is adapted from two books: My Life in France, Child's autobiography written with Alex Prud'homme, and a memoir by Powell, Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes.

The film is presented in a series of flashbacks between present day and past, jumping between various moments in both Julie and Julia's lives. The following plot summary separates the plot based on character.

Julie Powell - 2002

In 2002, Julie Powell (Adams) is a young writer with an unpleasant job at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's call center, where she answers telephone calls from victims of the September 11 attacks and members of the general public complaining about the LMDC's controversial plans for rebuilding the World Trade Center. She is discontented with this, and is disheartened at watching her acquaintances succeed in their own professions. She is happily married to Eric Powell (Messina), a writer for a magazine.

To do something she enjoys, she decides to cook every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1961) by Julia Child (Streep) in one year; Powell decides to write a blog to motivate herself and document her progress. She is initially met with criticism from her mother, who finds that the task is pointless, but she begins to gain a following. Eric supports her in this.

She is asked to host Judith Jones (Dilly), who was Child's editor. Julie attempts to make beef bourguignon for the occasion, but falls asleep while waiting for it to cook, and it burns. She reattempts it, this time it is successful. Jones cancels last minute due to the weather, leaving Julie disheartened as she had hoped that her meeting with Jones would lead to a book contract. Eric remains optimistic, frustrating Julie. He is hurt over Julie's prioritization of her blog and readers over their marriage and he leaves after an argument.

She takes a short break from cooking, but after her mother demonstrates support for her cooking, she decides to return to it. Eric returns, after he reads her blog post in which she demonstrates remorse for her actions. Julie is visited by The New York Times who feature her blog in a story, after which her project begins to receive the attention of journalists, literary agents, and publishers. Julie is hurt when Child gives a dismissive comment on Julie's blog.

Julia Child - 1950s

In the 1950s, Julia Child, an enthusiastic and unabashed woman, moves to Paris with her diplomat husband, Paul Child (Tucci). She attends Le Cordon Bleu to learn French cooking, and is initially met with skepticism as she is the only woman in the class. Madame Elizabeth Brassart (Buck), the proprietress of the school and Child clash. She is undaunted however, and begins collaborating on a book about French cooking for American housewives with Simone Beck (Edmond) and Louisette Bertholle (Carey).

Paul warns Julia that he may be assigned elsewhere, as his four-year assignment in Paris will be ending soon. She remains optimistic that they will not move Paul, and if they do, they'll remain in Europe. Child's book is offered publication soon before Paul is reassigned to Marseilles. She and Simone plan to tell Louisette that she will be receiving a smaller share of the royalties they receive from the book due to Louisette's lesser contribution to the project. After learning Louisette is getting a divorce, they waive their claims.

Although Child's book is rejected by Houghton Mifflin, it is accepted and published by Alfred A. Knopf.

The last scene shows Powell and her husband visiting Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian Institution and Child in the same kitchen receiving a first print of her cookbook and celebrating the event with her husb 1

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