Chef: Season 1

Chef was a very successful sitcom featuring Lenny Henry as irascible chef Gareth Blackstone. It ran from 1993 to 1996 (three seasons) and is focussed largely in the kitchen of Blackstock's restaurant, with some scenes taking place between Blackstock and his long-suffering wife, who also happens to manage the restaurant. Everton Stonehead, a lowly kitchen worker, is Blackstock's comic foil throughout all three seasons--the only member of the kitchen staff who appears in all seasons.  The kitchen staff in season one is rounded out by Lucinda, Otto and Peirs (all of whom leave after the first season). Later seasons attempted to inject a ensemble feeling into the kitchen scenes, with mixed results--in this first season Blackstock and Everton are the centre of attention, with the rest of the cast unobstrusively supporting the two lead roles. Lucinda in particular, was missed in the latter seasons--I think her character could have moved into the spotlight a bit more, as Claire Skinner does manage to steal whatever scenes she is featured in.

Although each episode is self-contained, each series also has an overriding story arc--in this first season that largely consists of Blackstock's aquisition of the restaurant and Everton's faltering first steps into the world of fine-dining. The season's all have something to commend them, however the first series has the highest proportion of standout episodes (the best episode of all--featuring Blackstock in France for a culinary competition--is in the second series).  Despite all three lead characters being black, the focus is on the world of cooking, which is handled very well.  The only episode with race at it's centre is the sixth episode where Blackstock's father appears at the restaurant and accused his son of forgetting his roots and forcing Blackstock to turn to Everton when his own attempts at Carribean cuisine are disastrous. It is one of the best episodes of an otherwise fine season.

The first and second seasons were shot on film, giving them a high-quality look (the 3rd was shot on video, and it shows).  Despite Lenny Henry's portrayal of Blackstock as a foul-mouthed, bad-tempered bully, the show as a whole is very gentle, nostalagic kind of humour.