Let me just say this upfront: From Scratch is for all the romantics. If you want a good tearjerker, a beautiful rom-com that punches you right in the heart, and something based on a true story—well, Tembi Locke (inspired by her memoir), opened up her diary for us. And what she gave us is a love story about an American student named Amy (Zoe Saldaña) who meets a Sicilian chef named Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea) while studying abroad in Florence. They fall hard, they fight for each other, and then life throws something at them that no amount of love can fix.
A Warning and a Promise, I will be honest and warn you: one of the leads dies. Expect a fight with cancer. But here’s the thing—you know it’s going to hurt, and that’s exactly what we want. Because From Scratch earns every single tear.
The Chemistry That Had Me Smiling, What I loved most? The chemistry. Damn, Zoe and that Italian man really gave us all the fan service we wanted. I was smiling widely through so much of this. The writer did an incredible job, and to think she’s writing from such a personal place, possibly opening old wounds… that takes guts.
Let me tell you about a scene that got me. Lino missed home. He moved across the world for love, which may seem romantic, but the reality is so different. I loved how that issue was handled. Amy said she could be Lino’s center, and I was just sitting there, smiling like an idiot. I love love. That’s it. That’s the review.
A Love Story That Takes Dreamers,I loved how Tembi gave all she could. How they fell in love, the uncertainty of it all. Love at first sight is a thing, people, but it takes dreamers and courageous people to grab that chance. They did long-distance. They figured out Lino finding his place in Amy’s American life. And let me say this: Lino was a true gentleman. Hot at that, but you get the point. We watch them struggle through opening a restaurant, through the complexities of adoption, through family disapproval, and through cultural clashes. But the center of this miniseries is the cancer battle. How they stood by each other. The insecurities. Not wanting to burden the other. Wanting to be around without being around.
The Truth About Relationships. Love, But Make It Real. This series doesn’t sugarcoat relationships. You stop making “me” decisions, and they become “us” decisions. Whatever decision you make, consciously or not, at the end of the day, you have to consider your partner. The uncertainty at the beginning, taking a chance on love at first sight (yes, it’s real—but it takes courage), long-distance struggles, finding your place in your partner’s world, building something from nothing (including opening a restaurant), adoption and family, but at the heart of it all is the cancer battle. That’s the truth From Scratch lives in.
I loved everything. I learned a little more about Sicily. I appreciated more of Zoe’s performance. I discovered more of Eugenio Mastrandrea. And I respected the hell out of Tembi Locke for sharing her story.
The Real Story Behind the Tears. And here’s the thing that makes it all hit even harder—it’s real. Amy is based on Tembi Locke herself, an actor and writer who really did fall in love with a Sicilian chef named Saro Gullo while studying abroad. Saro was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue cancer called leiomyosarcoma in 2002. Tembi spent ten years caring for him, and he died in 2012. They adopted a daughter named Zoela, just like Amy and Lino do in the show. Tembi and her sister Attica adapted her memoir for Netflix, and Reese Witherspoon’s production company brought it to the screen. You can feel that realness in every frame
Final Thoughts – For the Romantics. If you believe in love, even the kind that hurts—From Scratch is for you. Especially if you love a good cry. You know it’s gonna hurt, but that’s what we want. From Scratch is an American romance drama miniseries that premiered on Netflix on October 21, 2022. Eight episodes of pure, beautiful, devastating love. Go watch it. Bring tissues. And thank Tembi later.
