User reviews

6/10 - an intriguing plot isn't as fleshed out as I would've liked, but it fits the bill for a HMM fix

If you don't mind gaping plot holes, Gourmet Detective movies are usually fun. The leads have good chemistry and manage some decent dialogue. The mystery is interesting. I usually find it goes back and forth with enough complexity that I don't anticipate whodunit.

Unfortunately, perhaps more than some of the Hallmark whodunits, Gourmet Detective also usually has a few too many procedural issues. Apparently the writers never heard of the fruit of the poison tree, and break-ins by one or both of the leads are fairly common. The final perilous confrontation makes no sense since the first thing out of Maggie's mouth should have been to tell the villain what the people back at the station already knew meaning there was nothing left to hide. But then that would eliminate the token drama. Plus another illegal search and why were they there alone? Like I said, ignore the plot holes and the movie is fine.

There's a sweet surprise at the end that has nothing to do with the mystery, but adds another nice element to the personal stories.

Poor gourmet chef Dylan Neal was really getting exasperated with his police detective bestie Brooke Burns with her constant reference to a rare chef's book of his recipe secrets as a cookbook. What's gone on the market at an auction house is one of those from a really classy San Francisco restaurant back in the day. But when our sleuths go to a rare book dealer who purchased the item, the dealer's employee is found murdered.

As in all the Gourmet Detective movies, Burns and Neal go through the Bay City's culinary scene looking for clues and culprits. A second murder happens as some folks want this book real bad.

The contents are quite interesting and here's a hint. That former classy dining spot had some interesting ingredients the chef used in some dishes.

Nicely done story, the perpetrator had quite an operation to protect.

Thoroughly enjoyed Roux the Day. This couple has great chemistry. Great who-done-it.

"Like every cop I don't keep a round in the chamber." (or words to that effect.)

I thought this was a mystery movie, not a fantasy. Evidently they don't have a law enforcement consultant available.

I love the gourmet detective series and was happy that they added another installment after a long break. Roux the day was the best of the series in my opinion. The relationship between Henry and Maggie is more developed and the mystery kept you guessing the whole time Hope to see many more in the future.

Famed culinary consultant Henry Ross is a charming food industry insider in San Francisco. When suspicious sabotage ends in a shocking murder at his friend's five-star restaurant, Henry is put on the case with strong-willed police detective and single mom, Maggie Price. Despite Maggie's protests, they must work together to decipher the clues and investigate all of San Francisco's top culinary pros.

Another enjoyable mystery which is quite cosy and our duo are still bickering like ever. Of course, that's the enjoyable part. It's a light mystery without any dark elements. Maggie is a bit more likeable here, though her dry remarks are still there.

I enjoy the GD series and hope they make more - it's fun to have the woman as the cop and the fella interfering for a change! As usual, it's another opportunity to play Spot The Hallmark Actors, which is always fun and like seeing old friends/colleagues - especially great in Covid isolation. Although I'm having a lovely time out, Classic HM movies are good company and help keep me positive, despite all the murders, lol.

This installment had a different actor playing Bailey. He did okay but actor changes in a series messes with a shows chemistry.

This is the fifth and probably my favorite of the Gourmet Detective series, which turns the hallmark mystery genre around by having the male lead be the non-detective consultant.

"More than happy to return to my usual culinary work."-Henry

This episode is around a missing Chef's Book from the famous San Francisco institution Belvedere's Fine Dining. The restaurant has been closed for ten years and the chef's book has been missing for years. The mysterious chef's book is going up for auction. Our Gourmet Detective gets hired to determine the authenticity and bid for a client if it is real. Meanwhile, real detective Maggie is missing her daughter, Abby, who is in college and is excited about taking Henry to his first Giants game.

"No a Chef's Book. It's like a cookbook, but much more important and far more detailed."-Henry Ross

At the auction they find out it has been sold out from under everyone before the auction. The sale is private...but that doesn't stop a plucky food critic and young creole chef of the Creole Rooster. Helpful Maggie gets the buyer's info for Henry...in order for him to help his client. While they are bickering about Maggie needing a hobby, they discover a dead body in the buyers' antique shop. ...the chef's book is missing and the mystery is afoot!

"Chef's book! There is a difference!"-Henry.

Light, breezy, filled with good natured joking around. The Gourmet Detective is a fun watch on Hallmark Movies and mysteries.

I am frankly a little surprised how much I have enjoyed all five of these Gourmet Detective episodes.

It struck me as too much of a copy of the "Murder, She Baked". While I had no idea which show came first, it seemed like a bad idea to have two mystery shows, with such similar format. But I was ignoring what makes so many of these Hallmark mystery shows so enjoyable--the care taken in casting.

Dylan Neal and Brooke Burns are a terrific team. They are believable in their attraction to each other, and their care for each other. Equally they are believable in their different tastes, and their nettling of the other.

At the end of this episode, Henry's father, Jim (Bruce Boxleitner) remarks that they make a great detective team "like Holmes and Watson". Maggie humbly declines the comparison. Henry pipes in with "Beckett and Castle!"--a sweet nod to the former popular ABC detective show, that for my money, The Gourmet Detective compares very favorably to.

Why did they change actors for Bailey? What happened to Marc Senior? I preferred Senior, as it keeps the theme of the series in tact.

Love The Gourmet Detective Mysteries. Love the actors in each of these. This one maybe my fav! Other than the mispronounation of Daniel Whelan. Not pronounced Whee-len, should be be Way-Len. I think I can confirm that 😉

Entertaining movie with interesting characters. The only drawback are the food references. Cajun or Creole cooks would NEVER put tomatoes in Gumbo. NEVER!

I watch these shows because of my wife: Happy wife, happy life, etc., so I don't go in expecting much but this was beyond the pale stupid. Using tactics that would get any police detective fired and probably sued in order to catch criminals motivated by an illegal operation that isn't illegal. What a concept! At least add a little bit of believability next time.

Sorry Dylan Neal and Brooke Burns but this recipe about a family heirloom restaurant cookbook should have stayed buried forever rather than being discovered and auctioned off before another murder occurred. I felt the romantic spark between Maggie (Brooke Burns) and Henry Ross (Dylan Neal) was so superficial (right down to their sprayed hair-do's and caked on make up) that it became irritating the constant banter between the two of them.

As for Henry's elder statesman dad, Jim Ross (Bruce Boxleitner) running the father and son restaurant I felt his role was meaningless and he added nothing in the form of fatherly advice to his son Henry, nor any off setting intended humour to this supposed mystery theater production.

Overall I was disappointed with Dylan Neal himself, who had previously delivered more interesting roles and films, until this bomb. Something burned badly in the Ross's kitchen this time, and maybe it was the heirloom cookbook everyone was trying to get their greedy hands on, but more likely it was the end of film script burning by the cast.

I give it a 4 out of 10 IMDB rating.

Another cheap Hallmark redux of the formula crime series for bored housewives. 99% of scene time is just talking & even the dialogue is middle school graduate level. Script the usual food, romance, and mystery - all the hooks. Actors all have heavy makeup & designer fashion, never gets dirty & always wrinkle free, clothing (even a wardrobe change with practically every scene change). We get one crime moment (brief) with a very fake studio prop gun. Acting worse than even daytime soap.