Conner Montgomery is a thirty-five-year-old painfully shy executive chef at The Imperial Arms Hotel, who has spent most of her life hiding in her kitchen, but dreams of getting out from under the thumb of Wilhelmina Tate, her boss and benefactor. Her chance soon arrives when she’s given the esteemed assignment of preparing the menu for the social event of the year – an extravagant gala for the very wealthy and sophisticated hotel empire heir Philip Garrity. Philip wants to break away from the family business and be a restaurateur and thinks Conner’s unique cuisine can help him do that. The only problem is – he thinks Conner Montgomery is a reclusive, old man.
Afraid if she were to tell Philip the truth it would ruin her chances of getting hired, Conner tells Philip her name is Helen and she’s the sous chef – if he needs to ask Conner anything, it can go through her. The lie rapidly ensnares Conner and she enlists the help of her kitchen family to assist in the deception. She’s finally going to go after what she’s always wanted – even if she’s got to pretend to be man to do it.