The family stews over Matt's cooking partner, a comely chef-in-training (Roselyn Sanchez) who stirs patriarchal anxieties in overreacting Victor.

Marlene's blustery dad (Michael Constantine) blows in for Christmas and has an impact on Victor that's akin to the latter's effect on Matt (Elon Gold).

Showdown time: Matt meets Alex's former beau (Dan Cortese), an accomplished Adonis who has his own tales to tell about Victor.