Sheila Lukins attended the Tyler School of Fine Arts, the School of Visual Arts, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Art Education from New York University. After graduation, she decided to pursue a culinary career and attended the Cordon Bleu School in London, while working as a freelance graphic designer for theater productions. She continued her education in Paris, and later worked alongside renowned chefs in Bordeaux. In 1977, she returned to New York and co-founded a gourmet food shop called The Silver Palate.
She is the co-author of The Silver Palate Cookbook and The New Basics Cookbook. She also wrote a few cookbooks on her own including Celebrate!, Ten, and the U.S.A. Cookbook. In 1986, she succeeded Julia Child as Parade's Food Editor and wrote the Simply Delicious column for 23 years. She died of brain cancer on August 30, 2009 at the age of 66.
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