It’s a deliciously evil idea – kill the great chefs of Europe using their own specialties as the recipes for their murders. One’s head is crushed in a duck press, while another is trussed and roasted in his own oven. Is the murderer one of the chefs chosen to cook part of a spectacular meal or one who was overlooked? Is it the food critic who is literally eating himself to death (Morley, who seems born to the role), or the fast-food franchising American (Segal)? The list of suspects is delectable, but the real dish here is the beautiful Bisset, as Natasha, the pastry chef famous for her incredible bombes. Is she the next victim on the menu, or the main suspect? Sure, there’s more presentation than nutrition to this light-hearted fare, but who cares? Every once in a while, it’s fun to skip the entrée and head straight for dessert, even if it is just trifle.
This article appears in May 16 • 2003.