The Missing Ingredient: What is the Recipe for Success?

Canadian filmmaker Michael Sparaga focuses on New York restaurateur Charles Devigne's efforts to overhaul his struggling venue Pescatore's by appropriating the style of Gino's—a nearby culinary fixture that recently closed after 65 years in business. In attempting to channel Gino's character, Devigne goes so far as to redesign Pescatore with Gino's signature wallpaper featuring zebras galloping across a red background. But looking like Gino's is not the same thing as capturing the personality of the beloved eatery, as Devigne learns from Gino's previous owners and staff, as well as loyal diners who are not impressed with Devigne's actions. Ultimately, The Missing Ingredient is about more than changes in Devigne's establishment, offering a deeper consideration of why people become so emotionally attached to a particular restaurant. Successful venues, including Gino's during its many profitable years in business, create a distinctive experience for people, who come away from meals with warm memories and a sense of being welcomed into a special community. Devigne's failure lies in trying to turn his restaurant into something it never was and never would be—a mistake he learns repeatedly here. Recommended. (P. Hall)