Family, Food, and True Love— From Scratch Review

Have you ever finished a movie and felt like everyone needs to see it too? That’s exactly how I felt after watching From Scratch. It’s been a while since I sat through a series because many is too long but the synopsis of this one piqued my interest. I downloaded the first episode and, before I knew it, had binge-watched the entire season in two days. That’s how good it is. But I wasn't too happy with the producers, no one warned me that aside from popcorn, I would need a box of tissues by my side.

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From Scratch is a 2022 Netflix American romance drama created by Attica Locke and Tembi Locke. It stars Zoe Saldaña and Eugenio Mastrandrea in the lead roles. The series is based on Tembi Locke’s memoir of the same name and spans eight emotionally rich episodes.
It explores themes of love, family, loss, culture clash, resilience, and sacrifice.

The Storyline

Amy, a young Texan, travels to Italy for a six-week art program. Her father, Hershel, disapproves of her artistic dreams and wants her to pursue law. Without his financial support in Italy, Amy finds a part-time job at a bar run by Sloane, whom she meets on arrival.

Soon, she meets Lino, a Sicilian chef who falls for her at first sight. But Amy initially falls for Giacomo, a wealthy man who introduces her to the world of elite art. Despite her attraction to Giacomo, her friendship with Lino grows deeper, and he eventually confesses his feelings. Amy tells him she’s taken, and Lino told her they should stop seeing each other.

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Amy later validates her feelings for Lino and they spent their first night together. What I thought is going to be a one night stand turned out to be the beginning of a new chapter of their lives.

After many months of long distance relationship, Lino moves to Los Angeles to build a life with her, they both live temporarily in Amy’s sister Zora’s apartment. Here, their relationship is tested. Lino struggles to feel belong in America, homesickness, and underemployment. During a tense Thanksgiving, Amy’s family, especially her mother, displays disappointment in Amy's choice of partner. Lino’s carefully prepared Italian dishes are ignored. This is where I felt Amy should’ve stood up for him, at least encouraged her family to taste the food he worked so hard on.

A year later, things begin to go well for them. Amy lands a good job, and they get married. Lino also finds new opportunities and begins to thrive. But their happiness is short-lived when Lino is diagnosed with cancer. This painful twist brings both families (Amy's and Lino's) together in support of the couple. Lino beats cancer, and they adopt a daughter, Idalia.

Seven years later, the cancer returns, this time it's spread to the lungs. The families unite once more to help care for Lino and support Amy and Idalia.

My Thoughts

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From Scratch is the most heartfelt American romance I’ve seen this year. The cinematography is five out of five, strong emotional depth and the characters are fully developed.

Lino’s father really pissed me off at the beginning of the series. He constantly prioritized other people’s opinions over his own son’s happiness, his only son. As a man, your family should come first, not the judgment of neighbors. He even missed his son's wedding, which meant he didn't give his marital blessing.
While his behavior was shaped by cultural expectations, it still reflected how controlling some men can be. He wanted everything done his way without considering the feelings of his family, not even his wife’s.

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Amy and Lino’s love is inspiring. I admired their dedication to understanding and supporting each other through every storm. Their communication, vulnerability, and willingness to work things out stood out to me as it’s the foundation of any strong relationship.

I also loved Amy’s family. Despite being divorced, her parents stayed active in their children's lives. Even her stepmother was very warm, understanding and present. Lino’s father, who disowned Lino after hearing he's marrying an American was eventually touched by how well Amy’s family accepted his son.

Each of the episodes is emotional packed, you will either cry, or laugh.
However, the most difficult episode is the last one, I cried with Amy as she struggles to fulfill Lino's last wish which is taking his ashes home to Sicily.

This series made me laugh, cry, reflect, and believe again in the strength of love and family. The producers did a great job balancing emotional highs and lows, and even though one of the main lead died it doesn’t leave you feeling sad and broken.

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Recommendation

I strongly believe From Scratch is perfect for anyone who enjoys emotionally driven stories. Whether you're single, in a relationship, married, or watching with family, this romance will resonate deeply. If you’re a fan of slow-burn, cross-cultural love stories with strong emotional arcs, this is a must-watch.
I'm rating it 4.9 out of 5 stars.