Hallmark Channel invites you to the most delicious event of spring with Hearts Around the Table: Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient, the heartwarming new installment in the beloved culinary romance series. When passionate caterer Kiki Mercer (Kathryn Davis) lands her biggest job yet—a lavish wedding that could make her career—she quickly realizes she’s bitten off more than she can chew. Enter charming food critic Clay Rutherford (Torrance Coombs), whose unexpected support helps Kiki discover that the secret ingredient to both great food and great love is… well, love itself! Filled with mouthwatering dishes, picturesque wedding preparations, and that special Hallmark magic, this film is a perfect recipe for romance.
As Kiki and Clay navigate the chaos of wedding planning, they’ll encounter a delightful ensemble of friends, family, and clients—each bringing their own flavor to the story. From meddling mothers to competitive colleagues, the colorful cast serves up equal parts humor and heart. With stunning wedding decor, small-town charm, and enough culinary eye candy to make you hungry, Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient promises to be Hallmark’s most scrumptious romance of the season!
Hearts Around the Table: Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient: Meet the Cast
1- Kathryn Davis as Kiki Mercer
Kathryn Davis returns as everyone’s favorite small-town caterer, bringing her signature warmth and relatability to Kiki’s biggest professional challenge yet. Davis, who trained with professional chefs for the role, performs all her own cooking close-ups, making every slice, dice, and sauté look effortlessly delicious. Her chemistry with Torrance Coombs simmers perfectly, evolving from professional respect to something much sweeter.
This installment sees Kiki at her most vulnerable—Davis shines in scenes where her character’s confidence falters, making her eventual triumphs all the more satisfying. Watch for her showstopping chocolate raspberry wedding cake reveal, a moment that required two weeks of practice to perfect!
2- Torrance Coombs as Clay Rutherford
Reign and The Tudors heartthrob Torrance Coombs joins the franchise as Clay, the initially skeptical food columnist who becomes Kiki’s unlikely ally. Coombs brings a delightful edge to the Hallmark universe—his character’s dry wit and restaurant-world expertise make him the perfect foil to Kiki’s creative spontaneity. The actor’s real-life love of cooking (he hosts a cooking Instagram) adds authenticity to his kitchen scenes.
Coombs and Davis crafted their characters’ banter through improv sessions, resulting in sparkling dialogue that feels genuinely organic. His monologue about why he stopped believing in “love at first bite” might just be the most swoon-worthy moment in Hallmark history.
3- Mindy Cohn as Angie Hartman
Facts of Life alum Mindy Cohn returns as Kiki’s outspoken best friend Angie, delivering scene-stealing one-liners and unfiltered advice. Cohn’s impeccable comedic timing turns even simple grocery store runs into laugh-out-loud moments, particularly when she “helps” taste-test wedding cake flavors.
This film gives Angie surprising depth—Cohn nails an emotional scene where she admits her own catering business dreams, showing the vulnerability beneath her brash exterior. Her friendship with Kiki remains the series’ emotional anchor.
4- Ashley Newbrough as Jenna Whitaker
Chesapeake Shores favorite Ashley Newbrough plays the bride-to-be, whose wedding visions grow increasingly extravagant. Newbrough masterfully balances bridezilla moments with genuine sweetness, particularly in scenes where she bonds with Kiki over shared perfectionism.
The actress drew from her own wedding planning experience for the role, even contributing ideas for Jenna’s stunning boho-chic reception decor. Her floral crown game is strong enough to inspire real brides-to-be!
5- Mishael Morgan as Shari Adams
The Young and the Restless star Mishael Morgan brings sophistication as Shari, Kiki’s friendly rival turned unexpected mentor. Morgan’s natural elegance elevates every scene, especially a masterclass moment where she teaches Kiki advanced piping techniques.
The script cleverly subverts expectations with Shari—Morgan’s performance ensures what could’ve been a villain role becomes one of the film’s most unexpectedly moving relationships. Her kitchen showdown-turned-collaboration is a highlight.
6- Jake Epstein as Josh Adler
Degrassi and Designated Survivor alum Jake Epstein plays Jenna’s fiancé Josh, whose laidback attitude clashes humorously with wedding stress. Epstein’s everyman charm makes Josh instantly likable—his “groom cake” subplot provides some of the film’s funniest moments.
Watch for his hilarious reaction to tasting 17 different chocolate ganache varieties, a scene Epstein says required actual sugar rush recovery time between takes!
7- Steve Lund as Andrew Clarington
Haven and Schitt’s Creek actor Steve Lund returns as Andrew, Clay’s restaurateur brother who provides both comic relief and brotherly wisdom. Lund’s effortless charisma makes Andrew’s matchmaking attempts endearing rather than meddlesome.
His character’s food truck becomes the setting for a magical midnight snack scene that might just feature Hallmark’s most romantic shared dessert moment yet.
8- Brendan Morgan as Evan James
Brendan Morgan (Virgin River) brings rugged charm as Evan, Kiki’s farmer friend who supplies organic ingredients. His scenes showcasing farm-to-table processes add beautiful pastoral visuals—the strawberry picking sequence is pure Hallmark magic.
Morgan’s real agricultural knowledge (he grew up on a farm) lends authenticity to his character’s passionate monologue about sustainable farming.
9- Stephanie Bennett as Ella Hawthorne
Falling Skies actress Stephanie Bennett shines as Ella, the wedding planner whose Type-A personality hilariously clashes with Kiki’s creative chaos. Bennett’s precise physical comedy—especially when dealing with a runaway fondant incident—is perfection.
Her character’s gradual softening makes for one of the film’s most satisfying arcs, culminating in a tearjerker toast about imperfectly perfect weddings.
10- Eve Crawford as Margaret Clarington
Veteran stage actress Eve Crawford makes her Hallmark debut as Clay and Andrew’s mother, serving up equal parts warmth and mischief. Crawford’s twinkling-eyed performance suggests Margaret knows exactly what’s cooking between Kiki and Clay long before they do.
Her character’s heirloom recipe subplot adds delicious generational storytelling—and wait until you see her famous “love cake” reveal!
11- Rick Amsbury as Theo Whitaker
Character actor Rick Amsbury (When Calls the Heart) rounds out the cast as Jenna’s father Theo, whose checkbook anxieties provide gentle comic relief. Amsbury’s scene where he bonds with Josh over pre-wedding jitters is unexpectedly touching.
His character’s emotional father-daughter dance speech might require tissues—the actor drew from real memories of his daughter’s wedding.
Hearts Around the Table: Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient premieres April 12, 2025 on Hallmark Channel. With its perfect blend of foodie fantasy, wedding dreams, and slow-burn romance, this film promises to leave you hungry for seconds! Don’t miss the post-credits teaser for the next installment—hint: it involves a cooking competition and a surprise returning character!
