Yes, Chef! Christmas (2023 Lifetime)
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Cast: Tia Mowry, Luke Humphrey, Buddy Valastro, Raven Dauda
Director: Max McGuire
Writer: Carley Smale
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DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlySynopsis (via Lifetime)
Alicia Gellar (Tia Mowry) is a culinary school instructor who has put both her true career aspirations and personal life on the back burner. But this holiday season, fate is on her side. She is invited to compete in the city’s annual Kringle Cook Off and learns a family secret that could change everything and be the big break she needs to become a respected chef like her former boss Bobby (Buddy Valastro). There to mentor her through the competition is the fiery chef and Kringle protégé, Logan (Luke Humphrey), who Alicia builds a real connection with, despite their rocky start. But can Alicia win the cook-off and prove to herself that she is the capable head chef that Logan believes her to be? And will she be accepted by the Kringles if she shares the truth with them? She will have to put it all on the line to find out.
Recap/Wine Thoughts
The movie begins at the Culinary Institute of Chicago, where Tia Mowry is a part-time instructor. She has her students make culinary delicacies from all over the world AND write a paper? She wants to get a job in a restaurant, but Tia has a hard time finding a position. Her father has also been a recluse since her mother died.
Logan Forest is a handsome chef and is the face of an exclusive culinary holiday competition, The Kringel Cookoff. He is set to be a mentor, but there is an opening for a new competitor. Logan doesn’t want to coach an underdog.
While waiting to meet with investors, Logan sees Tia and wants her booth. He tries to bribe her with a bottle of wine and sweet potato fries. (That would work for me!) Tia doesn’t take the offer. Their arguing is interrupted by a waiter with a bag of lucky coins. He tells them they can throw the coin in a fountain to make their Christmas wish come true. Tia wishes “To find out who she really is and where she came from.” (I guess she was adopted?)
The next day, while working at a food pantry. A man shows up with a photo of Tia with her name on the back. His name is William, and he works for the competition. They send an invitation after he tastes her soup kitchen food. Tia calls her mentor, The Cake Boss, to see if he submitted her, but he didn’t. (He does have caked-on makeup, and his coloring looks totally off.)
Tia meets her competition, and they are from prestigious culinary schools and restaurants. Tia is partnered up with Logan Forest, and she is mortified. He tells her to meet him at 9 am, and she says, “Yes, Chef!” He tests her right away with only three ingredients and 45 minutes. She sears some Salmon on roasted vegetables and uses more than three ingredients. Logan Forest is not impressed. Tia and him get into an argument, and she tells him he is setting her up to fail. The next day, Tia meets him in the kitchen with some rare surf and turf.
Logan wants to start over and be on his best behavior. They go to a Christmas market and taste some Chicago food. Tia talks about growing up being biracial and adopted; cooking helped her through it.
Tia and Logan have a cookoff for Viola Kringel. Tia wins and gets to pick Logan’s punishment. She takes him to Christmas karaoke, and they sing. It is part of Tia’s mother’s Christmas traditions list. Logan helps Tia with the list, including decorating the tree and a Christmas game night.
Logan asks why Tia doesn’t work at a restaurant; she loses her confidence after a bad experience as a sous chef. Logan tells Tia that she is a fantastic chef. She ups her game with a baking montage with Cake Boss.
Tia gets the test results from a DNA test she took. While she checks the results, the Kingels tell Logan to give Tia a chance. Tia learns that William is her grandfather and she is a Kringel?!!? Tia pieces everything together but keeps it to herself before rushing off. Later, she meets with William. He tells her that he hired a PI and wished with a Christmas coin that his wish to find her came true. Viola and Rick are her birth parents, and Kimmie and Michael are her siblings. Tia doesn’t know what to think.
Logan has no idea what is happening and dances with Tia in the kitchen. He tells her he is excited to cook with her and that she is the best part of his day. After a cooking lesson with Viola, her MOTHER, Tia tells Logan the truth. She asks for time to think things through and worries about her dad. Logan gets offended because he didn’t grow up with a dad.
The competition continues, and I feel like Tia will be disqualified for being related to the organizers, but she cooks anyway! (Adding a Christmas flare.) Logan writes her a sweet note, and oh, and Cake Boss is there!
A cooking montage lasts for maybe 5 minutes.
Tia WINS!!!!!!!!
She makes her dish for a fancy party on Christmas Eve. Victoria realizes that Tia is her adopted daughter and freaks out. Tia rushes off into the snowy night and cries. Her dad comforts her and tells Tia that he is happy she found her birth family. They go back and make things right with the family.
Logan and Tia profess their love for one another and then make an elaborate Christmas brunch for the family. The end!
Side Note/Stray Thoughts
Buddy Valastro‘s first movie, and it shows. He spent the whole movie shouting at a laptop.
Overall rating
Pour it up
Put a Cork in It
Christmas Feels
🎄🎄 (2 Christmas Trees)
Enjoyment Level: 🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine.)
What did you think of the movie? Let me know in the comments or on social media @LifetimeUncorked
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*Photo Credit: © 2023 lifetime
Less a review than a synopsis. So much of that these days.
That’s what makes it great! I’d rather a synopsis than a boring review that tells me nothing and this site is like watching lifetime/ hallmark movies with a snarky friend, You want a review, stick to IMDB.