Customer Reviews

"Well done. Very thorough, especially the early years. I would like to know what happened to Jeff Smith’s sons…no mention of them once his career began to thrive. I also appreciate the accessibility of this documentary. I am sure I will re-watch. Thank you for telling this complex, painful story."

"Very well chronicled and interesting docuseries about a very complex man. I got to know Jeff in Chicago on the receiving end of his sometimes questionable behavior at a Michelin starred and beloved Chicago restaurant. You never knew which Jeff was being seated at one of your tables. He could be lovely and generous, he could be challenging. Many staff cringed when they knew he was on the books for the evening. I just shrugged and entered the battle zone."

"Thank you for this documentary- so thorough and done so well."

"“I Bid You Peace,” a documentary series on Jeff Smith (‘The Frugal Gourmet’), was a complete education for me. Having ZERO prior knowledge of his shows or scandals, I was captivated from start to finish. The filmmakers deserve immense praise for crafting a narrative that feels profoundly fair to the (too fair?). They present his role in popularizing culinary education and his fall from grace with equal clarity, ensuring the viewer comprehends the totality of his life. It would be easy to make him an evil caricature; they do not. For me, what elevated the series from great to exceptional was the astounding level of access. They managed to secure perspectives from every facet of Smith’s life and career! This includes friends, staff..victims..all speaking openly about their experiences. Such candid participation on these topics is a testament to the trust and careful approach of the filmmaking team. I strongly recommend this thought-provoking series to all."

"I think there were some technical difficulties in which the volume of speech was not always constant and you'd have to turn the volume up to understand what people were saying and then the next person would come on and blow your ears out. I think the documentary was at least average, and many people don't understand how a star rating works A three star rating is average and that's what I'm going to give it"

"Another “gut punch” from a celebrity we ignorantly put on a pedestal. And I am so sad for the victims. The movie itself probably could be condensed down. The professor from Colorado was helpful."

"Well done, but too long - it's been such a long time since this happened."

"One of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a long time. Definitely disturbing in parts, but also very human."

"A well-made film, very much worth watching. Would have been curious to know more about Smith's sons and their relationship as he aged. I assume they didn't want to be part of the documentary for reasons."

"I grew up watching The Frugal Gourmet when I was a teenager in Chicago. At the outset I will say that he shaped my appreciation for cooking and the history of food, so I have a favorable bias towards him. What I liked about the docuseries was that it presented both sides of all of Jeff Smith’s issues and it did not lean one way, it was presented in a very fair and unbiased way. What I really liked was in the 5th episode where the rationalization between personal and professional good/bad are discussed. What I didn’t like is minor and more of a person preference. I know some reviews have said the docuseries was too long at 5 parts, however I think the opposite. I think there were a few things that were glossed over or could have been expanded upon. I would have also like to know if anyone else was contacted and declined to be interviewed, such as Craig Wollam, his first on-air chef. Again, these are minor quibbles and nothing that detracts from the series. Highly recommended!"

"Well done documentary. What a crazy story. Watched it all in one sitting, so there goes Thursday!!"

"Informative, however, could’ve been reduced to a single two hour documentary. I feel the five episodes was to justify the $20 price tag."