I don't think I've ever rated a Hallmark movie higher than maybe a 3 or 4 lol.

Not that this was a new plot that's never been done before. Just that the writer took the time to fill in the lines with some colour and give it some dimension.

For starters, the citified (female) chef was not painted like all other (female) chefs in Hollywood big screen or generic rom coms, as uptight egocentric bossy and treats her staff like sub par, or belittles the small town folk. This woman was refreshingly down to earth and also a respectful human being. Again, breaking the mold of the Hallmark big city person coming to the small town and treating them like hicks. Or whining they don't have truffle oil or Gucci stores or Wedgewood China. Or whatever. I'm not on some feminist rant, but given the stereotypical happily ever nature of the genre, it's pretty nice to see she's not dropping her life long dream to live happily ever after with the town hick and be barefoot and pregnant baking pies for the fair a year later. And as a female chef in a male dominated and bro culture industry, I'm happy to see this picture painted to not glorify the nasty egocentric personality that must exist or you wont be successful.

Following that, another way the writers broke the mold, making the mechanic shop owner a woman, a regular woman with a regular son, not a stereotypical small town mechanic dude.

Finally, breaking the mold on Hallmark plots, not having the uptight city woman leaving a picture perfect money chasing boyfriend or fiance behind, and also not making the romantic history of the male lead a huge deal, like being mopey and miserably single since his wife died. He brought it up briefly over pizza, and the daughter made a gentle mention to him she didn't mind if he dated, but didn't spend the whole movie trying to push the 2 together.

On that note, the male and female lead had great natural chemistry but that could attribute to them being a long-time off screen couple. It happens, but it's rare to see two leads in a Hallmark movie have an organic chemistry and instead come off as oil and water on set forcing some flirtatious dynamic.

Nice conflict and twist 15 minutes before the end because there has to be that in all Hallmark movies, right? Some kind of misunderstanding etc. Leave it to the MIT-bound daughter setting her dad straight. But it all wrapped up quickly and was well wrapped up.

This is the first Hallmark movie I've watched that I didn't have to pick apart. That seems impossible. So I hope I see more out of this writer and director, and also more of the 2 leads. She has been in a handful of other Hallmark movies as tertiary characters but has a background in theatre, and he has some great shows under his belt, but they both deserve to be leads. The water in the pool that they select rom com leads from needs to be changed. It's getting murky. Time for some new faces.

I prefer the calmness that many of these pandemic-made movies offer - lots of scenes with limited number of characters. The plot is slightly more original ... sometimes - I'm really not a fan of food-in-the-face, even just a little here. There's nobody nasty - it is different perspectives that cause the tension. It is great to see this genre forget the Must-find-find-love-by-35 scenario and have the leads play their own ages - when we've watched the actors for a while, it's hard to buy into them being younger which sadly is often the casting.

They could do a fun sequel to this, focusing on the Inn rather than the festival.

For a memorable feast you need a selection of fresh ingredients, a simple to follow recipe and a pot of imagination and good fortune. This film has those items sprinkled throughout. For men like me it's reassuring to have an average looking man win the heart of a gorgeously vivacious woman, even after finding out in real life they've been married more than 10 years. And also for married men it's encouraging to see that a woman is willing to fall in love with that man again after that much time has passed. I became so involved with the passage of this romance I fretted over the director dropping the ball in the final minutes, only to be surprised by one of the most convincing and satisfying endings I've seen.

Those actors that supported the main story also supplied a warmth that left an after taste that was richly enjoyable. My mother told me to never criticise other peoples' cooking, but I so enjoyed the film that those little thoughts didn't come to anything. It's not a complicated story, but importantly it's an interesting story, like a favourite meal I can see myself sitting down to enjoy again and again.

I've done a small number of reviews for films that surprised and unexpectedly delighted me, such that I hope you may feel the same. A realistic 7.5 score feels understated but heartfelt.