She was a towering figure on the culinary front for more than 40 years, turning the art of French cooking into prime-time television entertainment.

Through her cookbooks, TV shows, and the individuals she mentored directly or inspired around the globe, Julia Child has taught generations of people how to cook—and find more joy in the kitchen.

Thanks to a feature film starring Meryl Streep, a recent HBO bio-drama series and a Food Network cooking competition, famed TV chef Julia Child has returned to to America’s culinary conversation in ...