The film was shot in picturesque and well-known locations in New York. The director aimed to create an atmosphere of magic and romance, using locations that highlight the culinary theme in the plot and the personal development of the main character. Amanda's fictional restaurant was located in a building on Greenwich Street in Manhattan. This is where the main events unfold and the transformation of the main character takes place. Other significant locations include the famous Henri Bendel department store on Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., and Union Square at East 15th Street and West 16th Street in New York. The places where the film takes place help to immerse deeper into the story of Amanda's journey: from fear to confidence in herself and her abilities.

Filming Locations:

Farmers' Market

In the Movie

Scene where Amanda buys crabs at the Farmers' Market. Amanda Shelton, owner of a small restaurant inherited from her mother, faces financial difficulties. She comes to the farmers' market to buy supplies for her restaurant as usual, but rumors are already circulating at the market that her restaurant is losing money and will be closed. At the market, she meets a mysterious man named Gene O'Reilly, who offers to sell her a crab. This crab turns out to be magical and becomes a key element in her life, helping her unlock her hidden culinary talents and change the fate of the restaurant.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the real Union Square Greenmarket. Opened in 1976, this market has become a symbol of local agriculture, offering residents fresh produce from regional farmers. The market operates on certain days of the week and always attracts thousands of shoppers looking for quality vegetables, fruits, meat, and other products. This location perfectly matches the story of Amanda Shelton. The farmers' market symbolizes her starting point — a place where she faces difficulties and finds a magical crab that will change her life and transform her into a chef.

Amanda's Restaurant

In the Movie

Scene where Amanda comes to the restaurant and learns she will have to close it. Amanda, who inherited her mother's restaurant, faces serious financial difficulties. The rent unexpectedly increases to $5,000, and despite all efforts, the restaurant does not generate enough profit to cover such expenses. Realizing the situation is almost hopeless, Amanda begins to understand that closing the restaurant is inevitable.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the building at 486 Greenwich Street in Manhattan. This location is in the Tribeca neighborhood. It is known for its combination of historic buildings, former industrial spaces, and modern residential areas. The choice of this building for Amanda Shelton's restaurant was driven by its authentic New York charm. The cozy facade of the building and its location in a culturally rich neighborhood perfectly convey the atmosphere of a small, once-successful family restaurant trying to survive in a big city. This location helps emphasize the heroine's struggle to preserve her mother's legacy.

Tom's Workplace

In the Movie

Scene where Amanda comes to Tom's workplace at the Henri Bendel department store. After the first two meetings with Tom, Amanda realizes she has fallen in love with him and casually goes to the Henri Bendel department store where he works as a manager and "accidentally" runs into him. They walk together through the store's boutiques, after which Amanda offers him some truffles she made. Their taste amazes Tom, and he shows her the space of a new restaurant in Henri Bendel, which is set to open soon, but they are still looking for a chef.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the famous Henri Bendel department store on Fifth Avenue. Henri Bendel, opened in 1895, became one of the symbols of New York fashion and luxury. Founded as a women's hat shop in Greenwich Village, it quickly expanded and increased its assortment, offering designer clothing and accessories. Henri Bendel also became famous for being the first to present Coco Chanel's collections in the United States, which strengthened its reputation as a leading fashion retailer. However, in 2019, after 123 years of existence, Henri Bendel closed due to changes in consumer preferences and increased competition from online retailers. The closure of the department store marked the end of an era.