Leanard Goodloe

French born and currently residing in London, Chef Novelli - along with his executive chef, Steven Kitchen, and pregnant fiancée, Michelle - comes to Los Angeles to establish his first American based culinary academy, which is renowned across Europe. The first order of business is for Chef Novelli and Mr. Kitchen to interview and screen potential students. As part of the admissions process, the hopeful students are asked to perform a simple, yet surprisingly nerve-racking task: cook an egg, any way they want. Ultimately, nine students are chosen to participate in Chef Novelli's prestigious American culinary venture, and on the first day of class they are asked to create what they would consider their "signature dish." While this is only the first practice test for the students, Chef Novelli reminds everyone that failing three of the tests is grounds for automatic dismissal from his academy.

With lessons in full swing, Chef Novelli teaches his students how to make the perfect risotto accompanied by his grandmother's famous tomato sauce. Fashionista Suzanne decides to call in a tailor to alter her chef's coat. Not surprisingly, Chef Novelli is irritated that she is disrupting his lesson and he asks her to leave his school for the rest of the day. For their end of week test, the students are asked to recreate the Chef's risotto and tomato sauce dish under strict time constraints. While three greatly exceed expectations and are invited to join Chef Novelli, Steve, and Michelle at a Malibu red carpet party, the other students are left waiting to hear the results of their test until after the weekend.

It's Meat Week at the Novelli Academy! Students are taught to prepare chicken, lamb, and pork all in eclectic ways. While this may be the most anticipated lesson to date, it also ends up being the most challenging for many of the students. With only two weeks to go until graduation, Chef Novelli decides to put the students to their hardest test to date. Not only are the students asked to make one of the three meat dishes, they are challenged to make one of the fifteen dishes learned earlier in the class. The problem? Two dishes means two opportunities to pass or fail. Some narrowly escaped elimination last week, but now others are on the line to be expelled from the Novelli Academy.

As an introduction into the culinary world, each of Chef Novelli's students is presented with the honor of their very own embroidered chef jacket. Chef Novelli then gets down to business, teaching his students their first lesson on desserts. For their test, the students must recreate one of the desserts demonstrated by Chef Novelli. If the student passes, they are granted permission to attend the open house party at the academy. If they fail, they are asked to leave and only have two more chances to hold their spot at the esteemed Novelli Academy. Chef Novelli also takes his students to a local farmer's market to inspire them on the fine art of purchasing fresh produce. After a few days together in the kitchen, the students begin to get to know one another and obvious friendships are formed. At the same time, one student's hidden past is revealed and it shocks his fellow classmates.

The mood at the Novelli Academy is somber in the aftermath of one student leaving after failing three tests. But there is no time to dwell because Chef Novelli has announced that as their final, the students will collectively prepare a gala dinner for local esteemed chefs and other VIPs. Chef Novelli chooses one of his students to be the head chef for the gala dinner. In an attempt to complete some of the more arduous tasks prior to the dinner, the students gather the night before the gala for prep work. However, two students have a problem with their assigned dish thus the entire class falls behind. With graduation at stake, tensions arise between two students in particular, and everyone is worried about the final outcome of the dinner, especially the head chef. The result of this meal will determine who graduates, and who does not.