“Christmas on the Menu” is a holiday film with good vibes and definitely for those who are passionate about romance and food!
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TITLE: Christmas on the Menu
FILM YEAR: 2020
DURATION: 88 Minutes
BLU-RAY DISC INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition
COMPANY: Lifetime Television
RATED: TV-PG
Directed by Jake Helgren
Written by Jake Helgren
Executive Producer: Feras Khatib, Vanessa Shapiro, Melody Tsai
Producer: Autumn Federici, Jake Helgren
Line Producer: Garrett Lee
Music by Chad Rehmann
Cinematography by Lars Lindstrom
Edited by Sean Cain
Production Design by Lawrence Humphreys
Art Direction: Kat Rodriguez
Costume Design by Daniella Cartun
Starring:
Kim Shaw as Josie Byrde
Clayton James as Tanner Rhodes
Cynthia Gibb as Shannon Byrde
Katrina Norman as Pepper fine
Jesse Kove as Nolan
Shanica Knowles as Iris Davenport
Stefanie Black as Marla Kravitz
Michael Steger as Stu
Lana McKissack as Nina
Josie Jennings (Kim Shaw) a celebrated, romantic, 35-year old chef in the city heads home to spend the holidays at the quaint, magical bed and breakfast where she grew up, and where her mother Shannon (Cynthia Gibb) has just opened a new restaurant. Famous food critic Tanner Rhodes (Clayton James), who has given Josie harsh reviews in the past, comes to town to review the new restaurant and Josie’s Christmas Cuisine. As the holidays unfold, Josie and Tanner get to know each other better, and a romance soon begins to blossom but will Tanner find a way to right his wrongs, write a rave review for the bistro’s delicious cuisine, and win Josie’s heart by Christmas Eve?
It’s hard to believe, two more films left in the Holiday Film Marathon and for day 49, I take a look at the Lifetime Television holiday telefilm “Christmas on the Menu”.
The film is directed and written by Jake Helgren and stars Kim Shaw (“Saving Hope”, “I Just Want My Pants Back”), Clayton James (“When Calls the Heart”), Cynthia Gibb (“Fame”, “Death Warrant”, “Gypsy”), Katrina Norman (“17 Again”, “Disaster Movie”, “No Strings Attached”), Jesse Kove (“On Wings of Angels”, “The Shadow”), Shanica Knowles (“Hannah Montanta”, “The Young and the Restless”), Stephanie Black, Michael Steger, Lana McKissack and more.
The film revolves around chef Josie Jennings (portrayed by Kim Shaw). Josie is planning to go back home during the holidays in time of the opening of her mother Shannon’s (portrayed by Cynthia Gibb) restaurant.
On the night before she leaves, while working at the current restaurant that she is head chef, she is told that famous food critic Tanner Rhodes (portrayed by Clayton James) and his editor Pepper Fine (portrayed by Katrina Norman) would be coming.
For Josie, she definitely hates Tanner Rhodes with a passion as his last review tore apart her first restaurant to the point she had to close it down because of the terrible review.
And while she arrives back home to be there for her mom’s restaurant opening, they are preparing to be featured by Iris Davenport (portrayed by Shanica Knowles) and Marla Kravitz (portrayed by Stefanie Black) as judges to critique the food at the new restaurant. But a third judge has arrived all of a sudden and sure enough, it’s Tanner Rhodes.
With stress levels high, Jodie wants to make sure Tanner does not destroy her mother’s restaurant, because of her cooking.
“Christmas on the Menu” is no doubt a holiday film that pairs the romantic comedy with delicious food, so if you are looking for a food-driven holiday telefilm, “Christmas on the Menu” is definitely it.
If anything, we get to see how Josie starts to warm up towards Tanner, but also drama as Tanner’s editor Pepper (who likes Tanner) starts to feel jealous when his attention turns towards Josie.
Also, I have to add that while Kim Shawn and Clayton James do have chemistry on this film, I was even happier to see actress Cynthia Gibb in this film. While Cynthia has appeared in many holiday films (and hopefully many more), she is an actress that many people grew up watching.
But for the most part, “Christmas on the Menu” is a holiday film with good vibes and definitely for those who are passionate about romance and food!
PURCHASE THIS FILM ON AMAZON PRIME
