At an age where Flynn McGarry should be playing video games, studying for a boring English class, or terrorizing his older sister, Chef Flynn is instead romping down a hillside. Or at an early AM farmers market in search of the best ingredients for an upcoming multi-course dinner where his friends are the waitstaff. Flynn is a cooking prodigy.  

While it seems like there are many young cooks on the scene, featured in shows like Top Chef Junior, Chef Flynn’s Flynn McGarry has both the talent and the Hollywood connections (mom Meg McGarry is a filmmaker by trade) to create a feature-length documentary. Plus, he’s boy next door cute, with his mop of blond hair and Peter Pan impish grin.

At 10, his family indulged Flynn’s creativity by allowing him to turn his bedroom into a cooking work space where, over time, he created dishes like “Beet Wellington” (a Beet version of Beef Wellington that I cannot wait to try someday).

With a 1 hour 22-minute run time, Chef Flynn is an entertaining, speedy documentary, not much longer than what you would spend on a reality-based cooking show. The experience is complete with the reality show tension – but instead of competition, the stress is watching this kid working at all hours of the night and day to make his restaurant work. Being a restaurateur is already known to be stressful but watching the weight on a kid is at times unsettling. 

Equally unsettling is the camera work. For sure, filmmaker mom loves to get her shot at whatever movement cost – in the car, chasing Flynn around, sneaking up on him when he is trying to create. The camera is always there. My kid won’t even let me take her picture on most days, let alone capture Every. Single. Moment. on film.

But that is a mom’s choice I guess… until her child turns 18. I just wish that occasionally she would work with a stationary shot. Or a tripod. Or a stabilizer of any sort. In spite of the food being so drool worthy, I couldn’t help but feel seasick through a lot of the film.

Now, at age 19, Flynn has opened the restaurant Gem in New York City. I know this because I was so intrigued by his story and menu while watching Chef Flynn that I had to look to see what he is doing now. They are taking reservations now through the end of December – at $155/per person for a two-hour 12-15 course dinner.

Bonnie Paul

Copyright ©2018 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: November 21, 2018.

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Copyright ©2018 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: November 21, 2018.