In 1949, Julia Child's is in Paris, the wife of a diplomat, wondering how to spend her days. She tries hat making, bridge, and then cooking lessons at Cordon Bleu. It's there she discovers her passion. In 2002, Julie Powell, underemployed and a failed novelist, about to turn 30, decides to cook her way through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a year and to blog about it. These stories intertwine of two women learning to cook and finding success. Sympathetic, loving husbands support them both, and friendships, too, add zest.