Chef!: The Complete Collection

When you dine at Chef Gareth Blackstock's prestigious Le Chateau Anglais restaurant, appreciate the ambiance, admire the menu and enjoy the entrees—just don't ask for salt! Comedian Lenny Henry winningly portrays Britain's finest—and most ornery—king of cuisine. Nominated for a British Academy Award for Best Comedy Series, the series serves up perfectly prepared laughs as the diva of the cutting board rules his kitchen with an iron ladle. Sadly for Chef Blackstock, his underpaid, overworked staff of slackers isn't nearly as hungry for superstardom. Set includes all 20 episodes from Series 1-3 as seen on BBC America.

Meet Britain's finest--and most ill-tempered--chef, played to perfection by comedian Lenny Henry. Gareth Blackstock, chef at the prestigious restaurant Le Chateau Anglais, lets nothing interfere with his quest for culinary excellence. Food is his life--so why doesn't everyone else appreciate his obsession?

Gareth takes great pains to set the most exacting standards for his kitchen staff, but they show their gratitude by bending or breaking the rules whenever they can. (By the way, just what was it that the sous chef lost in the veal stew?)

And the customers! Although every single one of Gareth's meals is a masterpiece, some people still have the nerve to ask for salt. Even his beautiful wife, Janice, lacks Gareth's enthusiasm; bored being a neglected housewife she'd rather go back to her high-powered job in finance. Gareth dreams of being head chef and proprietor of his own restaurant, but a few obstacles--like no money--stand in his way. With Janice's patient help, he overcomes the bank manager's doubts and qualifies for a loan. Suddenly, ownership brings exposure to the harsh realities of restaurant management--including a 15% budget cut and persuading his kitchen staff to work for nothing (and double up as serving staff!)

Gareth Blackstock	---	Lenny Henry
Janice Blackstock	---	Caroline Lee Johnson
Everton Stonehead	---	Roger Griffiths
Piers	---	Gary Parker
Otto	---	Erkan Mustafa
Lucinda	---	Claire Skinner
Gustave LaRoche; S1-2	---	Ian McNeice
Gustave LaRoche; S3	---	Jeff Nuttall
Alphonse	---	Jean Luc Rebaliati
Alice	---	Hilary Lyon
Debra	---	Pui Fan Lee
Donald	---	Gary Bakewell
Savannah	---	Lorelei King
Cyril Bryson	---	Dave Hill
Renee	---	Sophie Walker
Restaurant Manager	---	Peter Tilbury

Written by Peter Tilbury, Geoff Deane and Paul Makin
Directed by John Birkin, Dewi Humphreys
Produced by Charlie Hanson

Lenny Henry, one of Britain's funniest men, has been married to Dawn French, one of Britain's funniest women, since 1984. They met as co-stars of Comedy Strip—unsurprisingly, a comedy show.