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The Avilon prepares to please Hue Masters, a well-known restaurant critic who gave Executive Chef, Alex Marcus, the review that tanked his last restaurant. Tension mounts between Alex and sous chef, Maddie, as she tries to infuse her own ideas into the night's menu. General Manager Harry reveals his own demons when he fires the Sommelier with a drinking problem, and Alex has to deal with ex-flame, Selena, as a replacement for the day. How is this night going to end?
Reservations skyrocket after Hue Masters raves about Maddie's Wild Mushroom Shooter. Problem is, she can't remember how she made the soup! Alex and Maddie are forced to work together, trying various ways to recreate the dish. Mr Avilon permanently hires sommelier Selena, causing much tension with Alex and Harry while Selena hires Denise, a model, to be part of the waitstaff... with disastrous results.
A famous Bollywood Producer buys over the Avilon -for three days - for his daughter's wedding to a Frenchman! Alex, Maddie and Daniel struggle to create a menu that perfectly fuses French and Indian cuisines. Selena deals with flamboyant wedding planner, Robbie Trendy, while Winston, the pastry chef, makes an unlikely connection. In the midst of the wedding planning, people's feelings about love and marriage are aired, with unexpected revelations between Alex and Maddie!
The Avilon has a new cookbook and Harry forces Alex to give Maddie a chance at having a recipe in the book. Maddie struggles with which recipe of her late mother's to include. Ambitious Daniel pitches a recipe of his own. The front of house make ridiculous alterations to their uniforms and makeup in an effort to be featured in the cookbook. Flirty tension arises between Alex and Maddie, and Selena pulls out all the stops to re-ignite her relationship with Alex.
The Avilon is sent into a twitter when noted restaurateur, Phil Mackenzie, attempts to poach staff from the restaurant. Maddie and Daniel are rumored forerunners, which causes much tension between the best friends. Selena tries to convince Alex that what they shared was more than just sex. The kitchen and front of house scramble to prepare for special guests who are coming in for a secret after-hours supper: Beyonce and Jay-Z! Winston is tasked with making Beyonce's favorite dessert but nerves get the better of him.
It is that time of year for the staff party where much drinking, dancing and debauchery abound! While the rest of the staff relaxes and hook ups form, Maddie and Selena come to blows over the night's menu. Daniel takes a chance to reveal his true feelings to Maddie. Winston struggles with a secret of his own while Harry and Mr Avilon have a showdown in his office.
The Jeux Gastronomique Mondiale, a prestigious culinary organization that ranks the top fifty chefs in the world, is coming to the Avilon and Alex picks Maddie to be the lead sous chef on his experimental menu. The two of them work so well together that everyone, including Selena notices. The kitchen and front of house cope with the aftermath of the staff party. Daniel thinks Maddie and him are a couple but Maddie's behavior with Alex suggest otherwise.
Natalie Silver, Hollywood's latest ingénue, is coming to the Avilon for dinner. Problem is, she and her entire entourage are vegan! Alex puts Daniel in charge of the menu while Maddie and him run regular service. Maddie tries to reach out to Daniel but he's still stinging from her rejection. Selena makes the front of house compete to go for a seminar in Vegas. Harry is worried when he discovers that Mr Avilon and financier, Bryan S, are working together on a shady deal.
Sam, the Avilon regular, is going propose to his fiancée at the restaurant! This seemingly innocuous engagement has unexpected effects on numerous people: from Alex, to Selena, to even Paula, the receptionist! Alex refuses to make his Chateaubriand for Sam, which makes Maddie wonder about Alex and Selena's past. Her curiosity inadvertently causes Alex and Selena to have a showdown! Daniel proposes to Harry a unique way to make more money for the Avilon.
Daniel and Selena run a pop-up during lunch with the help of Carla, Rico and the front of house. As his alcoholism worsens, Harry "forgets" to tell Alex, Maddie and the others about it and all hell breaks loose. In the midst of all the finger pointing, Daniel has a surprise announcement. Tempers fly as Alex forces Maddie to choose a side: Daniel or him. Maddie makes an unexpected choice... with unexpected consequences.
Harry continues his downward spiral when Mr Avilon tells him that Bryan S is now a partner of the Avilon. While Alex and Maddie enjoy the honeymoon period of their romance, Maddie has to deal with the fallout of Daniel leaving. Bryan S comes to Selena with an unusual proposal.
As the Avilon prepares for a busy Christmas Eve service, Daniel's new restaurant, Silver Ray, creates waves with Hue Masters. Cracks in Alex and Maddie's relationship begin to show when she tries to invite Daniel to the staff Christmas gathering. Maddie has to stand her ground in the kitchen as Carla tests her patience. Bryan S and Selena cement their plans for the Avilon. Harry comes to blows with Selena but the biggest obstacle to his alcoholic recovery comes in a revelation from Mr Avilon.
Maddie worries about her father who has gone missing without word. Selena revels in her new position of power - as the Avilon GM. New revelations about the ownership of the Avilon come to light and Maddie is left trying to make sense of it all. Abandonment. Betrayal. Lies. The naive, innocent sous chef is now forced to grow up. Harry reveals to Alex the truth or supposed truth about Maddie's paternity. Bryan S and Selena discuss plans to bring Daniel back to the Avilon. Alex senses the writing is on the wall and wonders whether he should leave.
