A Recipe for Love and Chaos: Inside The Roses Culinary Experience with Jay Roach

Love, ambition, and a dash of competition come to a full boil in The Roses. This new romantic dramedy from Searchlight Pictures takes audiences into the beautiful mess of marriage, and last night we got a literal taste of it. Searchlight hosted a one of a kind cooking experience that mixed movie magic, mouthwatering dishes, and insights from director Jay Roach himself.

In The Roses, we meet Theo and Ivy, a couple who seem to have it all. Their careers are thriving, their home life is picture perfect, and everything appears to be running smoothly. But when Theo’s career suddenly hits a rough patch and Ivy’s ambitions take center stage, the balance shifts. Love turns into rivalry, passion turns into pride, and the couple begins to discover how quickly admiration can turn into competition.

The film blends humor, honesty, and heartbreak in a way that feels powerfully authentic. It is equal parts funny, raw, and painfully relatable. Anyone who has ever tried to balance love and success will find something to connect with in this story.

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From Script to Stove: A Night at The Gourmandise School

To celebrate the film, Searchlight Pictures invited guests to The Gourmandise School in Santa Monica for an immersive Monday morning event that celebrated creativity, connection, and good food.

The morning began with a hands on cooking session led by an expert chef, guiding attendees through the preparation of a Bouillabaisse inspired seafood stew. The dish was a coastal dream packed with lump crab, clams, sea scallops, and a saffron tarragon broth, all topped with a crisp soft-shell crab and served alongside warm grilled bread.

The meal continued with Maryland crab cakes served over baby arugula, followed by a colorful crudité platter with assorted dips. Guests enjoyed fine red and white wines, fresh lemonade, and fruit infused water. Dessert was a beautifully crafted home modeled chocolate cake that served as both the sweet finale and a playful nod to the film itself.

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Director Jay Roach joined the table and brought his signature humor and warmth to the experience. Between laughs and bites, he opened up about his inspiration for The Roses, revealing that some of the film’s most memorable moments came from real conversations he and his wife have shared over the years. The highlight came when Jay grabbed a second modeled chocolate cake and smashed it in true The Roses fashion.

Meet the Parents 4

If you get the chance to sit down with Jay Roach, you have to talk to him about his iconic comedy films — from Austin Powers to Meet the Parents (which is getting a fourth installment). And we’ve even got a little scoop about a new cast member: Ariana Grande!

On digital now

The Roses stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, alongside Jessie Buckley and Richard E. Grant. Directed by Jay Roach and produced by Searchlight Pictures, the film promises to be one of this season’s must watch romantic dramedies, just watch out for the cake!