Head chef Louisa recovers from COVID-19 without her sense of taste or smell, and must navigate the pandemic-era restaurant world with her staff.
Louisa, head chef of a critically acclaimed restaurant, discovers her sense of taste and smell are gone after recovering from COVID-19. On the brink of financial devastation, she must appease her investors with a number of new dishes. She and her sous chef, Daniel, spend days thinking outside the box to solve the problem. Then her investors pop in for a surprise visit.—Amnon Carmi
It's a tense night in the kitchen of Tastebud, a critically acclaimedrestaurant in Tel Aviv. Chefs work through sweat and stress likea well-oiled machine, yet anxiety grips the sous chef, Daniel, ashe waits for someone. The kitchen backdoor slams shut, andeveryone stares as Louisa, young executive chef of the restaurant,stumbles in. She is freshly out of COVID-19 quarantine. She beginsto abuse one of her chefs, claiming that a sauce has no flavor. Sheis interrupted by her head waiter, who informs here that a table issending their compliments for the very same dish she is criticizing.Confused, Louisa goes to the table and thanks the diners, thenoffers to take their plates. Before entering the kitchen, Louisasurreptitiously tastes the sauce remnants on the plate. Her senseof taste is gone. She runs outside where she has a panic attack.
The next day Daniel meets Louisa at her apartment. He is able topiece together from a photo on the wall and a brief conversationthat she is estranged from her father and cannot rememberhis face. She confesses that COVID-19 has jeopardized hercareer and the success of the restaurant, as investors arepulling out due to uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. Moreurgently, the remaining investors want new dishes, and Louisaanticipates failure. Daniel convinces her to try, and, over thenext few days, supports Louisa as she crafts new recipes basedsolely on mouthfeel and visual presentation. Louisa struggles tocommunicate what she wants the eating experience to feel like.She charges Daniel with realizing her vision.
Later that week Daniel is training the chefs to create the newdishes. Louisa seems calmer and more compassionate. The calmis disrupted when the head waiter announces that the investorshave popped by for a surprise visit. Louisa hides her nerves andruns out to greet them. They are a condescending crew of menconsisting of Sam, Ron, and Mica. A fourth member, Yoni, walksin and surprises Louisa with his interest in becoming an investor.Mica explains how he knows Yoni from their youth in the army,and after 20 years they have been reunited. Yoni expresses hisexcitement at trying Louisa's food, and wishes her luck.
Louisa has another panic attack-the kitchen is not stocked withthe ingredients to make the new dishes. She hands Daniel her keysand sends him to her home to fetch what they need. Daniel runsoff and quickly searches for ingredients as the chefs prepare whatthey can and the investors grow impatient. After his return, thekitchen starts churning out meals.
It's time for the second course, and Daniel brings out the food.After a brief exchange with the potential investor, Yoni, he noticesan eerie similarity between Yoni and Louisa, and realizes they mayhave a connection of which she is not aware.
The night is winding down and the investors are full and happy.Daniel is outside smoking a cigarette, and Louisa sneaks out togo home early after the night's stress. Daniel goes back inside,and comes out a few minutes later to lock up. As he pulls out therestaurant keys, Louisa's keys fall out as well. He curses, locks up,and runs to Louisa's apartment.
A few minutes later, Daniel runs in on Louisa crying outsideher apartment door. He apologizes, and Louisa thanks him foreverything. She enters her apartment and wishes him goodnight.Daniel then steps into her apartment and hugs her. Louisa issurprised at first but then returns the embrace. She shuts the doorto the outside world behind them.
