Della Carmichael, owner of a cooking school in Santa Monica, California and host of a cable TV cooking show has agreed to be one of three judges at a black tie Charity Gala Celebrity Cook Off.

But before the judges can sample the delights being created by the movie, TV and literary stars--amateur cooks for the night--the ballroom becomes a scene of choas. When the smoke clears, one of Della's fellow judges is found murdered, Della's $6,000 designer gown (borrowed for the night) is covered with blood, one of her closet friends is the prime suspect--and Della must find a way to protect her beloved foster daughter's damaging secret.