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♪ Deck all the halls Put up the tree ♪
♪ String all the lights for the world to see ♪
♪ Open up the can of cheer and spread it around ♪
♪ Frost up the cookies
♪ Sprinkle with love
♪ Break out the carols Pa rum pa pum pum ♪
♪ If you haven't heard Kringle's comin' to town ♪
Hey boss, these are from Table 3.
You've got a birthday right there.
Hey, appreciate that. Thanks. Hi.
Little birdie just told me
there's a birthday over here today. Laura...
If I am remembered for anything,
let it be my liberal use of cheese.
Huh, you're legendary.
Dairy?
You just had a kid, and you already have
the dad jokes on lockdown?
Impressive. How is baby Joey, by the way?
You know, picky eater, limited palette.
Oh, that I'm used to.
Oh, I think the brussels sprouts are done.
Oh!
Oh no! They're burnt.
Uh-oh! They are, ooh! Hard as coal.
Did I bump up the heat by accident?
It's okay.
Hey, Jules, uh 86 brussels sprouts, and tell Silas--
Tell me what, chef?
... that I have it all under control.
Shouldn't those be... green?
Uh, yes, they should be but as head chef,
I take responsibility for their charred demise
as I take responsibility for this.
I never made anything this fancy in the woods.
It was just me, a camp stove,
and a crew of hungry lumberjacks.
I would love to dine at Silas' Shanty any day.
- Allow me? - Yes.
It's my name on the door.
Gotta earn my keep.
Chef, says they're family of yours?
Right, thank you. This is Grace.
- Hey, kiddo. - Hi, Uncle Neil!
Let Silas know I shipped the cases he ordered.
- Should be there tomorrow. - Oh, great!
Would've delivered it myself and had dinner,
but the next reservation is three months away.
Yeah, we are slammed. How's the winery?
We had a good grape year.
The B&B get mostly wine tour groups
and the occasional stranded motorists...
Tell Aunt Trish I said hi.
: Gracie, we're so proud of you! You're a real star.
We read about you on the internet.
Oh, thanks, Aunt Trish. I'm giving it my all.
Do you have plans for the holidays, sweetie?
- Christmas is a week away. - Having a full menu.
We are booked right through the new year.
Your present's on its way. Should be there just in time.
Oh, I'm so sorry, I haven't had any time to go shopping yet.
Don't worry about us. Your success is the gift we need.
- We love you, Grace. - I love you, too.
Oh no! Ugh!
- Hey, Chef. - Hey!
I need your opinion for Table 9?
Uh, Table 9 had the micro gnocchi
with the edible dandelion.
Uh... the Sancerre has a soft, mineral finish.
It'll bring out the sage.
The soil along the French Riviera can do no wrong.
- Ugh, isn't that the truth. - About Table 4--
- Hey, hey, hey! - What's with Table 4?
It's Delaney Fox.
Delaney... Delaney Fox the... is-is here?
Hey, I didn't want her getting in your head
and throwing you off your game!
Anytime a Michelin-star food critic is here,
it's the Super Bowl!
I don't speak sports!
I'm getting that star.
That looks great. Keep it up.
I have a lovely selection of two different wines for you.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, and this is Chef Grace Cooke.
And this is the molten cocoa lava tart.
Hmm.
You've been on my radar for quite some time, Chef Cooke.
Well, I hope it was worth the wait.
And dessert wine to pair. Cal's Riesling is crisp,
to balance out the fruitiness,
and Nutwood Winery's Black Cherry Pinot
has a jammier profile for a delicate balance.
Balance.
Well, if that came in a bottle, I'd take a whole case.
We'll do both. Now, what's all this?
Uh, each layer has its own reduction,
a trend I may have started.
Trends, huh? Come and go so quickly.
That, they do.
I mean, one day everybody wants braised plum, and the next,
blanched peaches are the new it stone fruit.
Says restaurant row's new "It girl".
I don't know if it girl is--
No, no.
That wasn't a question.
Right.
Something else?
Oh... uh, no, no.
Um... bon appetit.
Okay.
That could be you one day.
Isn't that what everybody wants? To have it all?
My vision board is full.
The last thing I need is a handsome distraction.
What else is on that vision board?
Well, I'd love to cook with grandmas around the world,
learn all their secrets.
Plenty of grandmas around here you can cook with.
Hey, where's your lucky apron?
Oh, I spilled wine on it.
- Delaney seemed happy. Right? - Mm-hmm.
But hardcore food critics are notorious
for their poker faces.
I should've torched the tart at the table.
Don't "shoulda" yourself. You did good tonight.
You gotta leave it all out there on the f... field.
Nailed it.
Hi.
- How was everything tonight? - It was great.
- Great, all right. - Should've torched the tart.
Okay, we are all set in the back.
You are lucky you came from wine country.
Yeah. Growing up there, I'd spend the off seasons there.
My aunt and uncle have this cute little B&B on the winery,
it was like... living in a fairy tale.
Well, the region's booming.
Five new wineries opened in the past year.
Time flies when you're chasing the dream.
Trying to catch that falling star?
Rising star. With a Michelin star, the only way to go is up.
"How to Avoid Wine Tour Fatigue:
a tasting room tutorial".
I have 99 problems, but getting tired of wine isn't one of 'em.
Don't believe every story you read, my friend.
Ah, my lumberjacks would tell some stories.
Had me believing in everything from Santa Claus to sasquatch.
- You believe in Santa Claus? - I believe in everything.
Especially you, chef.
Good night.
I'm almost there, Mom.
The review.
Pick up the phone, Silas. Pick up the phone!
Whoa!
You've arrived at Silas' mobile message receptable.
- Silas! - Yes, chef?
I have been calling you all morning.
I saw that.
Forget about it. We're moving on.
"Chef Cooke's avant-garde dishes are a dizzying array
of flavour, a complete disregard of classic cuisine,
putting more emphasis on standalone bites
than a grand vision of taste." That was my one shot.
And I blew it.
I used to be the chef of this big logging outfit
in the mountains.
It took me 10 years of working for other people's goals
for me to realize my own.
We may get a bunch of cancellations tonight
because nobody wants to experience
"what amounts to basic culinary school taste test".
You know what?
Take a few days off. Come back fresh.
- What, now? No way. - You've earned it.
And you clearly need it.
Where would I even go on such short notice?
For the pain?
For the destination.
Thank you.
Have a good time.
"Grape Theory"?
: This hole-in-the-wall...
Everyone's a philosopher.
...was a tiny café inside of a massive stone cave.
And the fishermen prepared a traditional holiday meal
for total strangers.
The best unknown chef in Greece.
Everyone's a food critic.
And I can't tell you where exactly,
or it'll lose its tourist-free charm, but I do love tourists,
as I've been one for pretty much my entire life.
Well, in your expert opinion,
which is the best time to travel to Greece?
Oh, with European wines, you can't go wrong with any season.
Ooh, but not everyone's a wine expert.
Is that... is that Grace back there?
- Hi, Mr. Cardigan. - Well...
Nice to see you.
Well, I haven't seen you since...
since you were a guest reader here at Storytime with Santa.
Good to see you. Welcome back.
Thank you. Yes, it's-it's been a while.
Sorry, carry on!
This gal knows a lot about grapes.
Uh, Grace, what's your hot take on the best time
for wine lovers to travel to Europe?
Oh, fall.
Italians stomp grapes in the fall.
The Greeks pick them fresh from the vine at the end
of a warm summer.
But a once-in-a-lifetime experience
would be crushing the grapes in the original stomping ground.
Wine mecca.
Hmm, I never knew.
Yeah, a lot people don't.
It's just... my opinion so, sorry for interrupting.
Uh, hey, how long do they let 'em ferment?
They open the first bottle on Christmas Eve
and do a taste test.
Hmm.
Pairing that first bottle with the seven fishes,
it's a holiday tradition.
To see if it's ready to go or it needs more time.
Speaking of time, it is time for me to go! Ciao.
And my new book, "Open Table, Open World"
is full of such traditions. Thank you all for coming.
You know a lot about wine for someone who's last gig here was...
when was it? Santa's Story Corner.
That was a long time ago,
and not exactly my area of expertise.
Well, it happens to be mine.
I'm Asher.
A self-proclaimed Christmas expert.
You're pretty far away from the North Pole.
I spend time with families around the world
celebrating their Christmases.
Oh...
...it's all in here. Take it.
'Tis the season.
Just a tip for tourists, this season, Christmas time,
is the off season for wine country.
Thanks for the book.
Are you a writer?
No.
Tour guide?
Nope!
Book tour crasher?
Nailed it.
Hey, Asher? Your fans are waiting.
Surprise!
Goodness gracious! Look what the winter breeze blew in!
Oh, it's so good to see you!
Come on in!
This is for you.
Thank you! Ah!
Oh, this is goin' right on the tree.
How pretty.
- Oh! - Glad you like it.
Oh, Gracie.
Thank you.
Wow, your gingerbread house looks amazing!
Yeah, well you got here just in time
'cause I'm gonna need extra hands.
- I am happy to help! - Oh, great.
- Is Felicity around? - Of course.
We'd be swamped without her.
You know, she's probably in the café now.
Hey! Our favourite niece
returns from the concrete jungle.
- Uncle Neil, hi! - So good to see you!
Well, you look pretty good for a gal
that lives in a commercial kitchen.
Is there any room at the inn?
Nah, we're gonna turn you away
and make you sleep in a manger.
You must be hungry after that drive.
Oh, I'll just grab a bite to eat at the café.
Well, there's not much in there.
We sometimes open on an as-needed basis.
Oh.
Yeah... decorations are still in the boxes.
Well, I'm happy to help. I love decorating!
- Great! - And I love cheese.
Well then, Queso-de-Grace-o coming right up!
My goodness.
It looks...
...exactly like I remember.
We like to believe you're here with us
in spirit every Christmas.
You know, even if you can't be here, be here with us.
- I've been gone too long. - Yeah.
I hope to never be gone that long again.
Come on, we keep your room all made up.
Let's go get settled in. It's almost happy hour.
Happy hour, already?
Well, any time our Gracie girl is here
is the happiest of hours.
What's on the menu for happy hour, besides cheese?
Gracie?
- Felicity? - Is that you?
Felicity, hi!
Bring it in!
So good to see you!
I love your boots!
I love yours, too!
Of course!
How have you been?
Ugh, it's been a bit slow at the café
but that's normal this time of year. I guess.
Emotionally, a lot better seeing you.
Do you remember that Christmas that my aunt and uncle
were struggling to keep up with everything?
The tasting room, the bottling, the café, the decorations.
- I mean, it was a lot! - A lot!
Yes! And then, you came along and saved the day.
The whole season, actually.
Seasons of life keep on coming.
But it picks right back up in the spring.
You know the drill.
The restaurant's busy every season.
Hey! Why don't I help you out while I'm here?
Oh, you're way too overqualified
for what we have going on in there.
Okay.
Thank you.
The menu looks pretty much the same.
Minus the more complex dishes that I had to nix.
- What's that code y'all use? - Eighty-six.
I had to 86 when the stove decided to 86 itself
- without a warranty. - Oh, rustic.
Mm-hmm, we don't get a lot of traffic.
Where do people go out to eat around here?
Beats me. I just do dinner at the B&B.
Oh, your family knows how to cook.
They are the best.
Taught me to put cooking wine in everything.
The menu could use some TLC.
Tradition, love, and consistency.
That's what keeps people comin' back.
You'd know!
Chef.
We're going to pack in as much Christmas as we can
while you're here.
And as many family traditions as possible.
Is there something on your mind, kiddo?
Um...
...there is another reason why I wanted to be
with family right now.
I really screwed things up and I'm not... much of anything,
according to a critic.
All right.
Time to cyberbully whoever slandered my perfect niece.
Name, please.
Come on!
They say if you read the good reviews,
you have to read the bad, too.
How bad are we talking here?
Um...
I like to exact revenge.
From the comfort and safety of my cozy B&B.
Uncle Neil!
I bet this guy just had a bad day and took it out on you.
It was a woman, actually.
What?
It's complicated.
You can't let this stuff stick to you.
I know. Everyone thinks I have thick skin.
I'm sorry you had to read that.
You know, whenever we read one of those
once-in-a-blue-moon types of reviews,
we know it's by somebody who doesn't know you.
Aren't you guys worried that I'm wasting my time?
I mean, I was basically just cancelled
by a major food critic.
We like reading updates about you
and catching up with your success.
I hear having online haters is actually a good thing.
Neil, that Rita Bird is here.
Who?
Hello! Anybody home?
- Neil, Trish! - Hello! This is Grace...
our niece.
Hi!
Rita is the head of the Winemakers Association,
and hoping to help grow our little community here.
Oh, do you have a winery, too?
Not exactly.
But I do enjoy showing people what's possible.
So, do you uh, have many guests coming in lately?
Oh, a handful here and there.
Hmm.
Just a handful.
So much potential.
How about a look around?
Yeah, of course.
Yeah.
- Hey! - Hi!
What's the deal with her?
Oh, word on the street is she's expanding her empire.
Rita bids on vineyards, whether or not they're on the market.
They're not gonna sell their home.
Uh... Aunt Trish made a cheese wreath.
- It's in there? Right now? - Yep!
And we need something to pair with it.
Oh, time for my annual food coma.
Oh, I love a big tree at Christmas time.
Watch this.
It's perfect.
Oh, my brother's in town for a few days.
- The long-lost brother's back? - I haven't seen him in years.
- Where was he, again? - Where wasn't he?
So, all around the world.
Hi, welcome!
The author.
The heckler?
What are you doing here?
Hold on, you two met already?
Not really. Kind of. It was um...
She crashed my book signing.
Apparently she's been stalking me for years.
What, no? That is... that is so not... true.
You must be very proud of yourself.
Both times I've seen you, you've been hocking your own book.
Felicity asked me to bring them to sell here in the winery.
Thank you for these.
So, what's your YPH?
Y... P...
Yield per harvest.
How much wine can you squeeze out of the vines
for a 12-month interval?
We... typically measure by the season.
I guess we'd have to check our books.
Family owned for five generations.
It's impressive! With a legacy like that,
you could see a bidding war.
Trish's folks passed it to us
when she got back from the Peace Corps.
I went all over the world.
I would love to go back with Neil one summer.
You should! So romantic!
Go! Sell this place and see the world!
- So, I hear you're a city girl. - I am.
And where are you from?
Oh, everywhere.
Airports, hotels, hostels, the occasional yurt.
Travel writing is just basically a paid vacation, right?
Hmm, it seems a little vacation-y on the outside,
but it's a lot of work.
I'm just lucky I get to spend a little time with my sister.
Yeah, she's the best.
So, what made you wander so far from home?
I guess I got the travel bug from our dad.
He was a wanderer and I started to write about it.
People liked it, so, here I am.
Here we are.
I'm Asher, a travelling nomad.
I'm Grace, a culinary workaholic.
Where do you spend Christmas?
Wherever my next assignment takes me, I guess.
I miss spending Christmas with my family.
Do you spend it with your... boyfriend?
Fiancé?
I'm married.
To my work!
I have spent every major holiday that I can remember,
in a kitchen.
Workaholic finally visits family.
That could be a good story.
What? No, there's no story. I don't have a story.
Everyone has a story.
What is written was once unwritten.
Ooh! I like that. I'm gonna use that.
Please don't... write about me.
Few skeletons in the... wine cellar?
No, no, I've just had my fair share
of literary beatdowns recently and I would love to spend time
with my family without it ending up in print.
Noted.
I mean, not noted.
Thank you?
Oh, it's a shame that little café of yours isn't open.
I am just famished after all that shop talk.
Well, I'm off to test those new, robotic cork bottlers.
Iconic.
If you're interested in selling, I... come in peace.
It is a wine "cellar's" market.
Ha, ha! Get it?
Yeah, huh, cellars, with a C.
Toodles!
- Oof. - Well.
She's a lot.
Ah.
With her investment, we could hire someone to help Felicity
with the café and we could travel. Hmm?
Been a long time.
Hey, there's the kids.
- Oh, hi! - Kids!
Cork toss, yay!
Hey, I say the new guy goes first.
Sure!
- Hey! - Perfect. That's great.
Have you ever done this before?
No, I'm a first timer.
So, is it just sink the cork, win a prize?
Well, the winner gets to put the star on top of the tree
on Christmas Eve.
Hmm, I'll try my best
but I'm gonna be on top of a pyramid by then so.
Hmm.
Thank you.
- Oh. - Ooh!
Okay, not bad. Well, you know.
You're just warming up, right?
Oh!
Come on, Felicity. You got this!
Oh!
- Oh! That was so close. - You had it.
- All right, okay. - Come on, Uncle Neil.
Okay, eyes closed. Ready? Ready? Okay.
Look, look, look, eyes covered.
All right. Hey, if you sink this, you're staying.
The rules of cork toss are serious.
I get it. I respect it.
All right.
Now she has to stay.
She's the family cork toss expert.
I'm the expert at infiltrating families during the holidays.
How 'bout pizzas tonight for game night?
I love that!
There's a pizza place around here?
Carvella's. The only one in town.
Totally worth the trip.
Besides, we're celebrating two family reunions
tonight with Santa Bingo! Ha, ha!
All right, I'll snag the pizzas.
You two coming?
: Sure.
- See ya! - Well...
we'll just keep playin'.
Go ahead.
All right.
: Oh!
So yeah, this was the last stop on my book tour.
I'm in town for one more day
then I'm off to literally see the Seven Wonders of the World.
Sounds... wonderful.
Okay.
We got a few close to winning.
S.
S...
- Bell! - Yes!
Yay!
- Oh, bingo! - Wait, no, no, you have to--
- Oh, I mean, Santa. - Yes.
You get to open the first gift on Christmas morning.
All right.
I'll be hiking the Hanging Gardens of Babylon by then.
Ah.
I wish you both were staying for Christmas.
Are you staying for the winter solstice?
No, that's the night I have to drive back.
But I promise I will try to stay late enough
to see at least one shooting star.
Oh, solstice night, there's a cosmic fireworks show.
- It's incredible. - I always loved that night.
Do you guys have any family traditions?
Not like this.
Our grandmother does have a funny tradition though.
Do you remember letters to Santa?
Yes.
So, over there, the children write their wish list uh,
to Father Christmas, and then, they throw them in the fire
so that he can read it in the smoke.
I love that!
I bet you're thrilled to take over the family business
one day.
I have a very specific life plan.
On track to earn a Michelin star.
Mm-hmm.
Do you ever take time off?
Uh, does jury duty count?
Uh, no uh... oh.
Okay, the green olives balance out the black olives,
which balance out the green peppers,
which balance out the red peppers.
And don't even get me started on the mozzarella.
Don't knock it 'til you try it.
I prefer to take things more simple.
Leaves the tastebuds wanting more.
To me, pizza's like a relationship.
The only one he's ever had.
Okay.
I think I need to head out
and do a little research for my next assignment.
I thought you were on vacation?
Apparently travel writing is a vacation.
Stay with us. We've got plenty of room.
You prefer a sketchy hostel?
No, the tour put me up in a cabin
over on West Point Lake so.
I'll run you over.
Thanks for sharing our family tradition.
Good night.
Okay, are we playing for second place?
'Cause I think I have a shot.
Grace is pretty cool, yeah?
I hadn't noticed.
Yeah, right.
It's nice here.
I'm happy you're with great people.
And? I know there's a but coming.
There's always a but with you.
But you know how it is with me and relationships.
It's just not possible.
Because you don't know her?
Because I don't know where I'll be next week
and because I don't know her.
And my life doesn't lend itself to commitments.
It's... I've been on more airplanes than dates lately.
I saw the way you looked at her.
Because she had the entire produce section on her pizza.
What's the deal with this critic?
One opinion can't possibly make or break everything.
I've worked hard to get this far. I will get that star.
Like my mom knew I would.
Your mom.
Oh wait, I wanted to show you something.
Look what I found when we pulled out the Christmas boxes.
My mom's cookbook!
She loved all those recipes.
Especially the Christmas pecan tart.
I remember her making that when I was too little
to even crack pecans.
Yep, we had more pecans than grapes some years.
This is her handwriting.
"Needs more cheese.
Double amount."
So, that's where I get it.
You should have it.
No. This belongs here.
Well, we all do.
"A dizzying array of flavours from classic cuisines,
with no through line between courses."
What even is classic cuisine anyway?
Let's give that a try.
Good morning!
Good morning.
Okay, Mom, let's do this.
Did you uh... read the article I sent?
I'm too busy to read the news.
Oh, as a writer, it pains me to hear that.
Two cups of dry Chablis.
Gotta have Chablis around here somewhere, right?
Grace's name is trending.
She gets written up all the time.
She's a big deal.
And the food industry is a small town.
Why are you whispering?
Because this is also a small town.
I think that's why she's here.
When I got my first bad review, I got outta town.
Speaking of getting outta town, I gotta take off tonight.
Oh, I just found it.
Yikes.
People take food too seriously.
I'll stop by for coffees on the way over. You want the usual?
Always.
What's Grace's usual?
I don't know.
Uh, let's not mention the article.
If she wanted us to know about it, she would've told us.
- I'm not gonna say anything. - Hey, girl!
Hi! Good morning, Grace!
I like the braid.
- Is that Grace? - Listen, I gotta go, Asher.
Talk to you later. Okay, bye.
Please tell me that you have a bottle of Chablis.
Oh, we don't.
I know better than to start a recipe without procuring
all of the ingredients.
Have I lost my edge? It's been one day!
You're fine. You're just probably used to
a fully-stocked kitchen.
Right.
- What are these? - Oh, they're from Asher.
It's so sweet.
Peru, the Eiffel Tower, Venice.
Wow, I would love to go to all these places.
To get away from cutthroat kitchen?
It's not that bad.
And where else could I go
that would allow me to have so much creative control?
I guess control is not the right word.
Look at that berry tart.
Freedom! Freedom.
Where else could I go
that would allow me to have so much freedom?
- Uh, name please? - Asher.
Asher, absolutely.
Uh, can I get one latte, one peppermint hot cocoa,
and what's your most, how do you say this, complicated drink?
You want something with multiple flavours going on,
that when you take a sip you're like "Is this chocolate?
Is it salted caramel? Wait is this even a drink? Who am I?
What was I doing before I had this?"
Exactly.
One Mrs. Claustrophobic comin' up.
Thank you.
Aren't you Felicity's brother?
I am, yeah. Are you a friend of hers?
Oh, no yet. But I'd like to be.
I'm--
Rita? Oh, latte with oat milk.
This better be oat milk.
I'm lactose intolerant.
Ungh!
You know, I stopped by to gage if they were planning
on staying there forever.
Did your sister mention anything?
Browsing LinkedIn or dusting off her resume?
No, definitely not. She loves it there.
I didn't catch your name.
: Asher?
Thank you so much. Have a good day.
You'll hear through the grapevine
that I'm revitalizing this area.
Big changes.
Big money.
Big ideas.
Did the town ask you for this?
Nobody asks for what they want.
Well, because they don't know how to.
I also heard through the grapevine--
Through the grapevine, yes.
That their niece is heir apparent to the estate.
Think you could uh, put in a good word for me?
- Nice to meet you. - You know, if I took over,
tourists would flock to this place like a goldfinch on glue.
Is that a thing?
It is now.
Nice to meet you.
Have a good day.
Samantha, hi!
Grace Cooke! You're all grown up!
- So good to see you. - Thank you.
Do you have any Chablis by any chance?
Hmm, a Chablis, Chablis, where do you be?
Preferably one from Switzerland.
Ah, my foreign section's teeny tiny.
- These are all local wines? - Almost.
Our local section just keeps growing and growing.
Wow! Okay, any dry European white would be great.
- Hmm... - It's for fondue.
I'm afraid you're outta luck.
Oh. I'll figure something out.
Now, Bob! Bob, hello!
He better not sell out to a national bookstore chain.
Have you met Rita?
Yeah, she came by the winery.
Are they selling?
I... I don't think so.
They had a great year. Great reviews, great harvest.
The small business survival guide calls that
the kiss of death.
The better you do, the shinier you are to them.
Who's them?
Winemakers Association.
Big wine.
This is a petition to keep 'em out of town.
I wish I could help.
I wish I could help too
- but I'm comin' up dry. - That's okay.
Tell your aunt and uncle I said Merry Christmas
and to hang tight.
I will. It was good to see you.
Bye.
You know, Bob, that is a very cute,
little bookshop you have over there.
Well, thank you. Been in our family for years.
Hmm, track record of success.
That's very attractive.
Oh, hi. Excuse me.
Are there any taxis in this town?
There's a tour shuttle that pulls up every so often
that'll take you anywhere you wanna go.
That'll do, yeah. Hey, nice shop you've got here.
Well, enjoy it while it lasts.
The Real Winemakers ban corporate cash
from stomping out profits?
They'd steal change from a corner Santa if they could.
- Is what they're doing illegal? - It should be.
They're storming in here like it's a gold rush.
A grape rush.
You planning an all-nighter?
Oh, no, they're not all mine.
My sister, Felicity, works at the Nutwood Winery.
Oh, I adore Felicity, and Grace was just here.
She was?
Wait a tick.
You're that writer. I saw your poster at the bookstore.
I wanted to go but Bob and I have this will they, won't they.
Oh, hey! Sorry to interrupt.
I got cornered by that Rita again.
I saw that.
Oh, hey, Bob, it's good to see you.
Oh, hey, Asher. Nice of you to stick around town.
I got held up for a little while
but I'm heading off to Europe again tomorrow.
I got a crate from some hotshot European wine dealer.
I might still have it in the back!
She is such a character.
It's here!
Might-might have what in the back?
Take this to Grace. It's the exact wine she was looking for.
I'm sure it is.
She's all about the exact details.
It's...
Something going on between you two?
Oh... oh no. No-o-o-o.
I see. Grace is notoriously single. She always has been.
Oh no.
On the house.
You just tell Grace that I'll be telling everyone
a top chef shops here.
Will do.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
- Good to see you. - Safe travels.
Fold in the cheese to melt when baking.
Sounds good to me.
- Hey! - Anyone home?
Uh, yeah, Felicity's out at the café.
Oh. Actually, I stopped by to see you.
Oh? Oh, if this is about reading "Grape Theory"
I'm so sorry, I haven't had time.
My hands have been full.
I got this for you.
What is it?
Well, if you hate it, blame the barista,
and if you love it, it was all me.
Okay.
Wow... that's flavourful.
Um... it has a... a hint of caramel,
with notes of espresso and...
...a sweet mocha finish.
Oh, and um...
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much!
- Samantha sent this over. - This is so helpful.
I'm making a new recipe.
Well, it's-it's an old family recipe, but it's new to me, so.
I've been wanting to try a dish
that by the Chef Good Food Guru describes as the
"culinary Rainman in an apron".
You read that?
Yeah, I told you, I do my research.
Pizza.
- May I? - Of course!
: I love leftover pizza!
It's so good.
It tastes better the next morning.
Yes! It is so cold and delicious.
Mm!
Do you always wear that before you cook?
Uh, yeah. It's my lucky apron.
My mom made it for me.
Hmm. Is it working?
Oh, we're about to find out! Behind.
Oh, that's kitchen code for I'm crossing behind you.
Okay.
- Put me to work. - What? No.
Show me how it's done.
I don't have enough time to teach you everything
you need to learn. I mean you leave tomorrow.
Well, just think of me as one of your sous chefs.
You wouldn't last a day in a kitchen.
What's this?
Oh, that was my mom's.
When you open a restaurant,
you should put all of these on their menu.
Okay.
Moment of truth.
You ready?
I'm getting notes of aged white cheddar.
- Mm-hmm. - Creamy.
With an elegant pizza crust finish.
I know you are brave because you will eat anything
put in front of you.
I feel seen.
Really, I do.
Wait, shouldn't you be packing?
Actually, I was hoping to pack a bottle of your finest Cab
to enjoy at the top of Machu Picchu.
Great. Let's make that happen.
- Oh! - Come on!
You know, I once spent a month in Bordeaux
covering French fusion restaurants.
I once spent a month learning how to julienne a carrot.
Oh my gosh.
Grace's special blend.
Aged 10 years.
I'll take it.
Absolutely not. You are way too tough of a critic.
No, better this.
Thank you for this.
My pleasure.
So, how 'bout a tour before I go?
- Let's do it. - Excellent.
A wine tour today, pyramid tour tomorrow.
- Tough life. - Sounds like it.
This way.
Do you know the difference between red and white grapes?
Yes, colour.
And acidity and density.
So, they add a variety of flavour.
Dark is bold and light is sweet.
I'd love to own this much land.
Look at that view.
Pure nature, as far as the eye can see.
- I'm envious of ya. - Me? I'm envious of you!
You get to see what's beyond all this.
Yeah, I can't knock it. Travel's been my passion.
But?
But there's another life where you settle somewhere
and get mail.
You don't get mail?
Okay, so you don't get mail.
Why do you think I mail Felicity postcards?
No return address.
Ah.
So, what does a vagabond cherish the most?
A hot shower.
And a pillow.
And um...
oh... and uh...
...and this.
My dad gave it to me.
It's a compass.
It's very beautiful.
And very old.
And it directs you just west of where you're trying to go, so.
Was your father a traveller too?
Uh... sort of.
He never settled in a place long enough
to build a home like this.
But... what about you, the chef? Your parents were good cooks?
Yes, they were. They had this little
hole-in-the-wall grilled cheese shop.
I was in charge of the cheese.
Until they closed it all up
to take a cruise around the world.
Nice.
From grilled cheese to the high seas.
Not bad.
Thank you.
Uh, well I should um...
I should get that wreath in the oven.
I'm gonna grab some flour from the café before we head back.
Did you get your flour?
I sure did!
You should see this place in the summertime.
It is packed.
If you ever get assigned an expose on dessert wine,
- you should come back. - Oh, I certainly hope to.
That'd be a dream come true.
Oh, my apron.
- Oh, behind. - You remembered.
How can I forget?
I can't believe it!
Oh, the-the... it happens all the time.
I just saw that Rita lady and she has an agenda.
She said something odd to me too.
Really?
I think she's angling to take over the winery.
What?!
Well, you're the sole heir of this place
so the only way to keep it in the family
- is for you to inherit it. - Great, done. Where do I sign?
It's a bit more complicated than an autograph.
Tell me.
You'd have to leave behind Atlanta,
the restaurant and... move here.
And my shot at the Michelin star.
But you do have options.
Yeah! Like, we could clone you.
City Grace, country Grace, one there, one here.
- We'll figure it out. - When?
We both leave tomorrow and who knows what will happen then?
Talk to your aunt and uncle. Tell them what you wanna do.
They'll love you no matter what.
Thank you for saying that.
Uh, I better get back to the cabin and pack.
Uh, I'll do some more research on it, though.
See ya in a little bit.
Yeah, I'll figure out science, cloning.
Where are you? Are you still at the lake?
You missed your flight.
The tour company's waiting for you to go to the airport.
Mr. St. James, be a saint and call me.
Okay, I wanna go over the particulars of everything
that needs to be updated so you're all good to go
when I leave. Here's the plan.
We will keep the classics from the old menu
but modify them so the ingredients are either local
or things you can grow here.
So, this, this, and this will stay.
This goes and this goes because those are too complicated
and we need to focus on consistency.
- These are all 86'd. - Hoo-hoo.
Exactly.
And I pulled some unnamed wines from the cellar
for us to play around with.
What should we call this one?
We never gave it a proper name.
- Smells like raspberries. Yum. - Hmm.
As you guys know, when it comes to cooking with wine,
it's all about finding the perfect pairing.
All of the supplies that I ordered should be here today.
I got tablecloths and silverware.
Ooh, napkins.
I saw some nice ones at Samantha's shop.
If they are still there, I will get enough
for a full day's service.
I know it's a lot, guys, but we can do it.
Look, just go over everything
and I'll answer any questions when I get back, okay?
- Okay. - We got this!
Yes, we got this.
Silas, hi, you miss me already?
Of course we do! How's home?
It's great. A few surprises,
but mostly just fun with the family.
You sound different. Relaxed.
I wish I was.
I'm putting the schedule together
and wanted to know when we should expect you back.
Actually, if it doesn't put you in too tight of a spot,
I would love to stay here a couple more days.
I didn't realize how much needed to be done.
Spend Christmas with your family.
I have it all under control here.
You sound like me.
Only less relaxed.
Merry Christmas, chef.
You too, Silas.
Thank you. Enjoy.
If you change your mind,
my contacts are a who's who of rare livestock.
Their cheeses are "udderly" delicious.
Get it?
Udders.
Where cheese comes from!
You know your industry. That's good.
Ciao!
These big wine whackos are intense.
Yeah, she tried to get my sister
to turn Grace against her family.
She just needs to move along
and go play monopoly with another town.
She seems like a real game player
and I'm worried that she hopes it's an opportunity
- for something it isn't. - That's the thing.
Some people are optimists. Some are realists.
That gal's straight delusional.
She won't be around much longer.
Just have to wait it out.
Ambitious people are intense.
I hear ya.
Okay, so what cheeses would you recommend for a fondue?
Uh, Grace is making her family's special recipe
- and I wanna get her the best. - I've got just the thing.
Okay.
Grace!
Hey.
Figured out your tradition.
It's saying goodbye and then not actually leaving.
Confession, this is the most cheese
I've ever bought in my life.
Oh, you? The guy who's been everywhere and done everything?
You know, I've been called intense before,
in person and in print.
Intense is just another word for passion.
Well, if you meant passion, then say passion.
I overheard you venting to Samantha.
About how you worry that I hope for an opportunity
for something that it isn't.
I wasn't talking about you.
I was talking about that Rita person.
Oh.
Sorry.
I just heard you say that she's delusional
and I assume that people think that
when I say I want a Michelin star.
I don't think you're delusional for wanting that.
In fact, it's quite the opposite.
And how do you feel about ambitious people?
Ambition's a good thing,
especially when it's paired with talent, and heart and...
...it's a very attractive quality in someone who knows
what they want and is more than capable of getting it.
Thank you.
We present the Christmas wreath!
- Ah! - Aw!
And a pot of cheese lava.
Oh!
Using your finest muscadine wine.
Voted most delicate by Wine and Dine Guide.
Bravo.
Okay, a new family tradition. Everybody, dig in!
Mm!
Your mom would love this.
I feel her now, more than ever.
Me too.
I'm glad you pushed your assignment to stay a bit longer.
I'm just not ready to leave yet.
It's so nice here.
It's nice having you.
Now, for another tradition,
as the longest night of the year is ahead of us,
and a whole year behind us...
Winter solstice year in review.
Highs and lows. Who's gonna go first?
I'll start.
Um, the reason I came back out of the blue
is because I was running from a situation
that I couldn't control.
I got my shot at the Michelin star, and I blew it.
And everyone out there can see my demise, and so,
I am taking a break from packed tables
and potential disappointment.
I don't believe everything I read, which annoys my brother,
but you're good at what you do.
Cooking lets me teleport to places that I want to be.
And that's good enough for me.
- The meteor shower started! Oh! - Let's go!
Okay, let's bundle up, everyone!
- Okay! - We'll finish this later.
All right!
The North Star must be...
There.
Make a wish.
You deserve a star.
You'll get it.
Tell me the story.
I know what's in your book but I wanna hear it.
My dad had a wandering spirit.
And one year he decided he wanted to get a boat
and sail to England to visit his mother. And so, he did.
It was just him, the open ocean, and a compass.
He almost made it, but his boat got stuck just off the shore.
Here's where it gets good.
Suddenly, he saw something in the surf.
It was a... a girl who was swimming out to him.
Who was she?
My mother.
He gave her that compass when he knew he loved her.
That's a beautiful story.
Thank you.
What do you say we go back in the old homestead and get warm?
That's so funny.
Hey! You two look great!
Ah, there's a wine expo in the city.
Fun!
Get whatever you need for the café.
Thank you for trusting me.
We trust you with all of it.
Christmas Eve is in a couple of days.
Should we do the big dinner party?
I love that!
I'll cook for it.
I will debut a whole new tasting menu.
The Christmas tree needs to be decorated
and set for the tree lighting but...
It'll be the grand re-opening of the café.
Invite all our friends.
- Let's put the word out! - Sounds great.
Question for you.
How long were you two together before you knew that you...
You know?
Two and a half years.
Three harvests.
Wine math.
- Have fun. - See ya.
- Bye. - Bye.
Hi.
Good morning.
Are your aunt and uncle here?
Uh, no. They stepped out for a bit.
And left you in charge, all alone?
That seems like an awful lot for just one person.
Are you two here for a tasting?
Uh, we're here to do an appraisal.
An appraisal? Why? What for?
It's a... it's a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo.
- It's kind of hard to explain. - I got it.
You see, we're here to assess how much the property
and its assets are worth in order to put in
an accurate bid to buy it.
But they're not selling it.
Oh, not yet.
But they're also not planning a trip to backpack around the world together... yet.
Which they will do.
And this place will still be here when they get back.
You think that you can run this place better than my family,
but you would run it straight into the ground.
But there's a reason--
That it's been in my family for five generations.
A-a-and with my plans, five more.
Why would we give it up now,
when our wines are still winning awards?
You know, we'll just come back another time.
We'll always be here.
Oh, by the way, I don't know what you're doing
on Christmas Eve, but if you're not bulldozing a playground,
you should come by the café.
We're having a big dinner to celebrate the success
of the family business.
You should come.
Hmm.
Hey, it's your favourite client.
I got something big to pop off. I need to run it by you.
I'm headed to the airport soon. Call me.
Hey, guys, I have an idea for what we should name this.
- Yeah? - Really? Oh, great!
Hey, sorry for the late call.
Is that you, Harry Houdini?
I can explain. I'm on a red-eye.
This isn't like you, Asher.
The Wonders of the World have been there a long time
and they'll be there tomorrow when I land.
Just sending you an email.
Keep an eye out.
Sounds good.
Thanks.
That was a good one! I'm impressed!
Asher!
Hey, how's it goin'?
Oh...
Well... it's been years since we had a Christmas tree lighting,
and the ghost of Neil past wasn't very good at organizing.
I can see that.
Oh.
Hey, I got a question for ya.
What made you want to run a winery?
Well... I wanted a simple life.
And all I needed was grapes and patience.
And I got neither,
but I admire what you built for your family.
Grace told me how she got her first start
at her parents' sandwich place.
Yeah.
Until her mom got sick.
They didn't know how long she had, so they closed up shop
and took a cruise to see the world.
Grace was eight. She stayed with us.
Not long after they got back, she passed.
And her dad?
Just a year later. His heart.
As you can imagine, it hit Grace pretty hard.
She was only a kid.
She's always been pretty good at looking after herself.
Losing her folks so young.
What do you think?
I... I think she's strong, and resilient, and ambitious,
and she knows what she wants.
I was talking about the lights.
But you're spot on about Grace.
Thank you.
Well, hello!
It's gonna look great, guys.
Look at this. Oh!
It's starting to feel like Christmas in here.
Ooh, can I do the bows?
Hey! These are for the party tomorrow.
Oh, my goodness!
Think they look good?
So, before I leave, I wanted to share something
as a thank you for sharing your traditions with me.
In the spirit of our Gram in England,
we're gonna write letters to Father Christmas.
Oh, okay!
Okay, so, toss your letters into the fire
and the smoke will carry your wish up to the North Pole.
There we go. All right, come on up.
I seriously believed her when she had us do this.
Oh, me too. Fooled me every time.
Do you think uh, that he has any restaurant connections?
Hmm, anything's possible.
He's given me everything I want right now so...
keep it comin'.
I think she's talking about me.
You being here, it's good.
I hope to come back soon.
You should.
Hot chocolate? Let's get some hot chocolate, you guys.
Wait, that's what I asked Father Christmas for.
That was sweet.
So, um... what'd you wish for you in your letter?
That's between me and Kris Kringle.
Oh. I know! That elusive star.
I can have many wishes at once.
For you to remember us by.
As if I could ever forget.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
This is great! I love it!
Jingle bells, jingle bells.
Come on! In the spirit we are.
Christmas Eve has arrived, kiddo.
I have an idea for the menu tonight, if I can pull it off.
Do you need anything?
Nothing.
I have everything I need right here.
Come on! Let's get decorating!
Madam.
- Party time! - Here we go!
This is gonna be great.
We did good.
Thank you for coming.
Can I shake your hand? All right, then.
Thank you.
Thank you for coming to our party.
Hi, so good to see you.
Hey, beautiful.
Eggnog.
Hi! You're back! Oh!
Why? What happened?
I was on my layover in London
and suddenly realized that you might need a sous chef.
It's perfect timing.
But what about your next assignment?
It's complicated and I like simple.
You do.
Hey! You're back!
Hey, Neil.
We're about ready.
Okay.
Are you nervous?
I should be.
But I'm not.
Are you?
Terrified.
I've never worked in a commercial kitchen.
Do you remember when we first met?
The public humiliation part?
No!
No, about the Italians and how they open a bottle
of the new batch on Christmas Eve to check its fermentation?
Yeah.
Stay right here.
- Grace's special blend. - Mm-hmm.
- May I? - Yes!
Thank you.
Oh no!
It smells like poison.
It's so bad! We can't drink that.
Show time?
Yes!
Let's do this.
Moment of truth.
Please.
Thank you, all, for joining us for the reopening
of our little café, which would not have been possible
but for our Grace.
I am so thankful for the opportunity
to get to cook for you all.
And I am so excited to debut our new sweet and zesty wine,
Felicity Raspberry.
It's what we use to cook with at home
so we named it after the sweet and zesty member of our family.
Now, for dessert, we have the Christmas pecan tart,
an old family recipe, paired with our Southern Blackberry 36.
This is what you can expect when you come to our winery
for a tasting or a tour. These recipes and wines
have been in our family for five generations.
Cheers to many more!
Cheers!
- Let's light the tree! - Yes!
It's almost time for Christmas.
Welcome to the family.
All right, let's do a countdown.
: Three, two... one!
Merry Christmas!
Silas, hi.
I have some news, and it's not a big deal to me
but I know it is to you.
She's coming back?
The day after Christmas.
World News editor, Roger speaking.
Rog, it's Asher. Did you get the uh...
I tried to reach you at your hotel in Agra,
but you hadn't checked in. This story is legit!
I had my fact-checkers take a shot at it... and congrats!
It's a Christmas miracle.
What are you saying?
I'm staying front page.
Full reach of all the outlets.
We're blowing the roof off this one.
Nobody messes with a mom and pop. Nobody.
I dunno what you were doing wherever you were
- but, it worked. - I love it.
I respect you for sticking your neck out on this.
You know, and I need to stick it out a bit further.
I've got a pitch for you.
It's a bit bigger than a story.
Grace!
Hi!
Snacks for the road?
Uh, something like that.
You forgot your lucky apron.
Thank you.
I have to do this.
I know.
Behind.
It's kitchen code for I've got your back.
Merry Christmas.
Silas.
Hey, chef! You look like you had a merry Christmas.
I did.
Remember what I told you.
You don't speak sports?
And time away can do you good.
It has.
Welcome back.
Okay, guys, time to try it!
Let's see if it held up!
Looks delicious! Oh my.
Be honest. Give me the real thoughts.
Mm!
What do you think? Good? Do you like it?
Mm-hmm!
Michelin star good?
A-plus.
Okay! Hopefully she likes it.
Behind!
Back in the apron?
Only time I didn't wear it
was last time she was here.
Okay. Silas?
Yes, chef?
What is this? Where is it going?
Oh.
Okay.
Ooh!
We have one pecan tart for you.
Careful, it's a little hot.
Hey chef, she wants to talk to you.
Maybe something about the tart.
I have to go.
Have you checked the news?
Big expose and a takedown of big wine,
courtesy of your biggest fan.
Grace?
Hi.
You're back?
I told you not to write about me.
You said this was a little bit off.
But it led me exactly where I wanted to be.
At home.
With the people I love, running this café,
making recipes I love.
That's my story.
What's yours?
I told my editor I'm stepping back from all the travel.
I have other things to explore.
I do need a sous chef.
Even though you don't really have any experience.
Well, I may have an in with the chef.
I got something for ya.
- You did? - Yeah.
A little Christmas present.
Airline tickets?
Someone told me fall was the best time to visit Italy.
Stomp grapes in the original stomp--
It is the perfect time to go.
It is perfect.
Subtitling: difuze