Meryl Streep to play Julia Child

Nora Ephron attached to direct film

Columbia is cooking up "Julie & Julia," starring Streep as the famous chef and Amy Adams as a mastercook wannabe.

Project centers on a frustrated temp secretary who embarks on a yearlong culinary quest to cook all 524 recipes in Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." She chronicles her trials and tribulations in a blog that catches on with the food crowd.

Nora Ephron, who is adapting the screenplay from Julie Powell's book "Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen," is attached to direct.

Studio is eyeing a 2008 start date.

Streep will next be seen in the war-themed drama "Lions for Lambs."

Adams has three films awaiting release: "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day," "Charlie Wilson's War" and "Enchanted."