Sonorous names adorn pretty menus, seductive smells float over the village square - a cooking competition in Himmelsricht puts the small village in a bright turmoil. Especially Emma Ferrari, of course, who is right in the middle of it all with her delicatessen and supplies everyone with the best Italian ingredients. Her friend, the aristocratic Konstanze von Hohenfels, is actually in the final, and her egocentric mother, 92-year-old Isadora, of all people, is part of the jury. But as soon as the first portions are served, Isadora tips forward into her risotto plate - dead as a mouse! Himmelsricht is in shock. The lady was old, but still fit and sprightly. Of course, Emma immediately makes her first investigations, and Inspector Gieseking is not long in coming. Soon it becomes clear: Isadora has been poisoned. As it turns out, she has not been sitting comfortably in an armchair lately, as befits an old lady, but has attracted displeasure from all directions. And the deeper Emma digs, the more piquant the motives of all those who would rather see the noblewoman dead.