Madison "Maddy" Lee is spunky, independent, and stuck in her hometown of Franklin, NC where she manages and runs the kitchen at her family diner, "Kiss My Grits." Maddy dreams of handing the reins of the restaurant over to her sous chef and little sister so she can take her unique southern-style breakfasts and brunches up a notch to make it big in Nashville, the food capital of the south.

Hunter Barnes is a wannabe food vlogger and independent culinary journalist living back home in Franklin after being away for almost ten years. After attending college in NYC and living all over the country, Hunter is back home where his heart is, ready to elevate the southern cuisine food scene. Unfortunately, one of the first restaurants he poorly reviews is run by none other than his long-ago high school crush, Maddy Lee.

With Franklin's annual Grits and Gravy Festival on the horizon, Maddy is determined to win the most original dish competition and come back out on top. She has a unique menu planned to wow the judges and the entire town in hopes that her confidence will be boosted once again. When her nosy mother and sister get in the way of her work, Maddy is reminded of how she's ready to strike out on her own and finally separate from the family restaurant for good. When she discovers that Hunter is set to be one of the judges of the Grits and Gravy Festival, Maddy knows that it's game on.