Hello Elanor,
if I understand your question correctly, I can not see any problem:
eq = x^3 + y^3 == 6 x y;
eq1 = y /. Solve[eq, y][[1]];
xx = x /. Solve[D[eq1, x] == 0, x][[1]];
yy = eq1 /. x -> xx;
(* values of {xx,yy}: {2 2^(1/3),2 2^(2/3)}, i.e. {2.519,3.174} *)
ContourPlot[Evaluate@eq, {x, -1, 5}, {y, -1, 5}, Axes -> True, GridLines -> {{xx}, {yy}}]

Does that help? Regards -- Henrik