Carmen, Meredith's free spirited niece breezes into town and quickly confides in her aunt that she is both pregnant and on the run from the law. Meredith purposely presses charges against her niece, a ploy to keep her and the unborn baby close. Three chefs storm into town to testify against Carmen, who posed as a restaurant critic in order to obtain free meals. Sympathy for the chefs is lost as they immediately criticise the culinary expertise of the locals. Feeling a little insecure in the kitchen herself, Laura approaches Diver for a few cooking lessons. Miranda approaches Dan as well, earning herself a job in his makeshift cafe after a Carmen inspired decision to quit school. When Miranda announces she is funding a move back to the city to live with her Dad, Laura is forced to show her vulnerability.
