Recipe for a Perfect Christmas 2005 Its Christmas time JJ works at a magazine as the assistant for the food critic When the critic leaves, her boss gives her the opportunity to be the new critic So she tries to find a restaurant to write about But when her mother, whom she doesnt have a good relationship with and whos a little wild shows up after losing her job JJ cant deal with her When Alex a restaurateur who is struggling and facing the possibility of being closed asks her to come to his restaurant and try it out and write about it She agrees on the condition that he take her mother off her hands Alex agrees and forms a rapport with her that amazes JJ