Customer Reviews

"Need to edit out repetitive commentary. Very enlightening about a very complex individual. “Everything I do is forgiven” is an interesting take on the Christian gospel and quite convenient for molesting boys and young men. He was a conniving, selfish, closeted creep. Good documentary."

"The series was important because those who loved and ignored Jeff Smith’s transgressions were all too eager to bury his sexual abuse. This documentary evened the score for the victims."

"Growing up in San Francisco, I vividly remember the Frugal Gourmet and the many battles I had with my Mom because she didn’t want me to watch the show. Not that the content was bad, she thought his recipes were great. She said she couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about Jeff gave her the creeps. Turns out her intuition was spot on. I thought the documentary was excellent. Very balanced, sensitive without be overly judgmental. I was, however, struck and saddened by the excuses the priest and others made for Jeff. Living in San Francisco everyone knew his predilection for young adolescent boys. In my opinion, the excuses rendered diminished his legacy even further. I will watch again because I’m sure I missed something. I will encourage others to watch it."

"We enjoyed the show and would recommend it to others. We wish there had been additional information on Jeff Smith's family whom, we understand, didn't want to provide comment. It was particularly difficult to listen to the Episcopalian priest who repeatedly stated Jeff's "affection" was misunderstood. Important to have that perspective but disappointing that he wasn't able to acknowledge that Jeff Smith abused vulnerable young men."

"Wow. I never knew about this. I had heard about it but none of the details. I never bought any of his cookbooks, and would watch occasionally when he was on the air, but I wasn't a true fan. There's only 1 recipe that I make fairly regularly of his. My sister's in-laws were huge fans, her mother in law made his recipes religiously. This was really well done. I can't believe that there are those who think it was all fabricated...too much evidence not to believe it actually happened."

"I’m so glad I watched “I Bid You Peace.” I’m in my 70s, so old enough to have watched “The Frugal Gourmet” when it first aired on PBS, and was a fan. In the documentary, I think you’ve done an incredible job of capturing who Jeff Smith was and what he contributed to the early days of cooking shows. You also did a great job of describing the scandal in a dispassionate and balanced way. I think this is the definitive biography of the man. I wish there had been a bit more about Jeff’s childhood and young adulthood. I think he was part of a generation and a cultural/ family/ religious background that pre-dated and excluded any understanding of his experience. They had no language for any of it. They—especially men—frequently took refuge in alcohol to dampen anxiety and reduce inhibition. Altogether: a tragic story, extraordinarily well told. I disagree with reviewers who say the doc is too long. I think you needed every minute of five hours to do the story justice. Bravo!!"

"Very impressed by the documentary, tracking both the highs and disgusting lows of Jeffrey Smith. Very well made."

"Both thorough and sad. A tragic testament to the frailty of human nature as an extraordinarily talented man is unable to defy the societal prejudices of his time to live authentically as a gay man and instead wreaks havoc and harm on the young men in his sphere. In viewing this, sympathy goes out to both sides: the innocent victims and the man who destroyed himself, the career that delighted and benefited many, and his family."

"Well done."

"Enjoyed this doc. I had absolutely no awareness of what happened to The Frugal Gourmet. Thanks to the filmmakers for making this doc, though I think it was too long and often repeated itself."

"Well done. Very thorough, especially the early years. I would like to know what happened to Jeff Smith’s sons…no mention of them once his career began to thrive. I also appreciate the accessibility of this documentary. I am sure I will re-watch. Thank you for telling this complex, painful story."

"Very well chronicled and interesting docuseries about a very complex man. I got to know Jeff in Chicago on the receiving end of his sometimes questionable behavior at a Michelin starred and beloved Chicago restaurant. You never knew which Jeff was being seated at one of your tables. He could be lovely and generous, he could be challenging. Many staff cringed when they knew he was on the books for the evening. I just shrugged and entered the battle zone."