Cindy Busby Talks Hearts Down Under [Exclusive] 

[Warning: General spoilers ahead.]

We’ve had to wait a minute for it to hit the U.S., but Cindy Busby‘s Australian romcom, Hearts Down Under (aka Romance on the Menu) is finally here, premiering Saturday night on Hallmark Channel. Filmed pre-pandemic in Brisbane, the movie follows workaholic chef Caroline (Busby) from New York to the seaside village of Lemon Myrtle Cove when she inherits her late great aunt’s Seagull Cafe.

Initially hesitant to go in person, she’s nudged on by her mom, Denise (Barbara Bingham), who runs the NYC restaurant she calls home. Once a passion project, new foodie haven Laboratoire has become a slog in the aftermath of a negative review, and Denise suggests the change of scenery and pace might do Caroline some good. Mom knows best, so off she goes.

Once there, her initial plans to cash out and return home hit a snag when she falls in love with the cafe and its staff, and Cook (Tim Ross), who’s her B and B host and the one running the kitchen at the cafe. Aunt Dee’s dog, Spatch, is also a bonus. Once Caroline makes her intentions to sell known, the townspeople conspire against her a bit to slow renovations and maybe change her mind. Cook comes in handier than intended with that ruse when he offers to help do the work if she’ll hold down the kitchen.

Pretty soon, she’s putting her own spin on her aunt and Cook’s menus and finding her own place in their space–and a found family halfway around the world. She and Cook have a little bit of bluster to get out of the way about who’s the better cook before realizing that’s all just noise and they actually make a pretty good team. Written by Alison Spuck McNeeley and Casie Tabanou, it’s a really sweet film, with a lovely light energy. I’ve spoken to Busby a few times since she filmed the project, and here’s what she had to say about her experience working on it.

“Australia is so amazing. I love it so much. I cannot wait to go back. I just kept telling the producers, ‘Please, let’s work together again.’ I couldn’t go all the way there without making a trip of it. It was their summer, and so it was extremely hot. I shot there for a month. My cousin lives on the Gold Coast, so I got to spend time with some family at Christmas,” she recalls.

“I got to work with a first-time director, Rosie Lourde, who was just such a gem. The Steve Jaggi Company [who produced] just really took care of me in the best way possible. Australian actors are so talented. They remind me a lot of the British actors in Royal Hearts when we shot that in Romania. They’re really down to earth and funny. There’s something about Australians that they’re so hilarious. It was just a great time.”

“It’s such a cute story. She’s a big-time New York chef and finds out that she inherited her great aunt’s cafe and [has to] decide whether to keep it. She’s scared to disappoint the people, but then really gets close to them. It’s such a lovely movie and a really beautiful story and I am so proud of it. I’m so excited for people to see it.”

Hearts Down Under premieres Saturday night at 9 pm/8c on Hallmark Channel. Here’s a sneak peek.

[Update: The Canadian premiere is set for May 22rd at 9 pm eastern and pacific on W Network with a repeat at 3 am the morning of the 23rd].

Photos and Video Courtesy of Crown Media.