Burnt turkey
Burnt is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed by John Wells and written by Steven Knight, from a story by Michael Kalesniko. This article’s plot summary may be too burnt turkey or excessively detailed. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. Adam Jones was the chef at a high-class Parisian restaurant owned by his mentor Jean-Luc, until his drug use and temperamental behavior destroyed his career and the restaurant.
In London, Adam searches for old colleagues, beginning with his mentor’s former maître d’hôtel, Tony Balerdi, now a hotel manager of The Langham Hotel in London, under the ownership of the Balerdi family. Adam convinces famed restaurant critic Simone to dine at Tony’s hotel. Tony realizes that Adam set this up and is reluctant to let him cook, but his kitchen is in such poor condition it would result in Simone shutting his restaurant down. Seeing no other way, he allows Adam to cook. Simone’s favorable review convinces Tony to renovate the hotel’s kitchen and hire Adam as head chef permanently.
He stipulates that Adam must submit to weekly drug tests with Tony’s psychiatrist Dr. Opening night is a disaster, and Adam furiously closes early, blaming Helene. He publicly humiliates her, escalating from verbal to physical aggression, and she quits. Adam goes on a talk show that he previously turned down to drum up publicity for the restaurant. At his second opening, a restaurant critic gives a positive review, enraging Reece.
Tony convinces Helene to return with a doubled salary and some insight about Adam’s behavior. With the restaurant’s reputation established, Adam sets his sights on three Michelin stars, still avoiding his drug dealer, even after Tony offers to pay off his debt. Adam takes Helene to the reopening of Reece’s restaurant. Adam and Reece are civil, but the night derails when Adam spots his ex-girlfriend Anne Marie, the daughter of Jean-Luc. Adam finds Anne Marie surprisingly forgiving after he abandoned her in Paris and missed her father’s funeral.
Kaitlin, the front of house host, advises Tony that two Michelin reviewers have arrived, and he cooks for them rather than going to the hospital. They send their meals back as it’s too spicy, and Michel reveals he sabotaged the sauce with cayenne pepper as revenge for Adam’s past cruelty before walking out. On the verge of a breakdown, Adam leaves the restaurant. He wanders the city, eventually arriving at Reece’s restaurant drunk.
