"My husband and I watch frugal gourmet in Seattle and my husband became a really good cook as a result. When we heard the allegations against him, we were aghast. Once while dining near the market in Seattle, we saw a little man on a scooter coming through the park and ask the waiter if that was Jeff Smith. The waiter said yes, and that his restaurant had banned Smith from ever coming in because he was so outrageous and always made a scene. I think the documentary covered everything very well from his early days and his success to his way of dealing with the sexual allegations. It just goes to show that the one you least expect can be a monster."
Leanne Stites
"Easy peasy transactions and easy to download and view. Great doc!"
Mali
""I Bid You Peace" does a splendid job of presenting the life of Jeff Smith while handling the controversy he faced with honesty. Pleased that the research and interviews with those who new him best present the facts without being tawdy or conspiratorial. As a fan of Mr. Smith from a young age, I will hold on to the fond memories of his program and cookbooks and the joy they brought to many."
Patricia
"This documentary series is excellent. I enjoyed watching The Frugal Gourmet and often wondered what happened to Jeff Smith following the scandalous allegations against him. This documentary does an amazing job of telling about Jeff Smith's life from his youth to his death. It explores all aspects of his personality and fairly portrays his contributions to cuisine and cooking shows as well as his significant character flaws. I highly recommend this series. It is a captivating study of a culinary genius who was torn apart by personal demons that lead to his tragic downfall."
Jeanette
"Very interesting, watched it all in one night! The interviews of people who worked with him were very interesting."
Charles
"Thoroughly researched, beautifully produced documentary."
Elisabeth Olson
"Well done. It was a sad story to tell and you told it well."
Bart
"The documentary is exceptional. As someone who was a longtime admirer of Jeff Smith, I was previously unaware of the full complexity surrounding the allegations against him. The film offers a comprehensive overview of his life, including an in-depth exploration of his personal life and the evolution of his career - an aspect to which the documentary devotes significant attention. It also presents multiple perspectives, balancing those who believe he was innocent, those who were victimized by him, and those who were deeply affected by and ultimately condemned his actions. This measured approach allows viewers to engage thoughtfully with a complicated and emotionally charged subject."
Ryann G
"While the filmmaking was solid-I found it infuriating that at the end of the day, Jeff’s friends and colleagues glazed over his crimes. They seemed to feel more sorry for him, than his victims. I also wondered if he ever molested his own 2 boys. My criticism is not for the makers of the series-but for everyone who basically swept his pedophilia under the rug while being interviewed in the closing episode."
Jenn
"I Bid You Peace was genuinely eye-opening for me. Despite growing up in the PNW, I had no prior knowledge of Jeff Smith, his show, or the allegations that ended his career. Yet I found myself immediately drawn into his fascinating and tragic story.
The interviews feel genuinely honest and raw, a refreshing departure from overly-produced streaming content today. My one complaint is that one interview camera seemed of lesser quality, leading to distracting perspective switches.
Despite online accusations of it being a “hit piece,” I Bid You Peace presents a well-rounded portrait that allows viewers to grapple with the complexity of the man and his legacy.
In an era when streaming services stretch stories into bloated episodes, this docuseries respects its audience, delivering a deep dive without unnecessary padding.
Overall it’s an excellent example of what documentary filmmaking can achieve when it prioritizes substance over spectacle."
Dustin
"Fantastic job. Fair and detailed.
I’m a chef. I would credit watching Tje Frugal Gourmet as a kid, among other shows, to help push me into the culinary arts. This story is fascinating and needed to be told.
The struggle, the series captures really well, is seperating the personal from the professional. I still love that show, but Jeff Smith the man obviously had many personal struggles and demons.
“Did he/didn’t he” is up to each viewer and subjective, but I do think that this was done fairly telling all sides of the story.
Highly recommend if you ever watched “The Frug.”"
Bo
"A bit too long but very enlightening. Glad we got to hear from the victims"
JustMe