Kavan Smith Talks Writing, Cooking, Comfort Food and When Calls the Heart

When you see Kavan Smith, you know you've seen him before, but you might not be able to put your finger on what you've seen him in. Smith has been a staple in sci-fi shows like Eureka, Supernatural and Stargate: Atlantis as well as Hallmark Channel films and shows like Wedding Bells and When Calls the Heart, where he plays businessman Leland Coulter.

Smith wrote and stars in a new Hallmark Channel movie, Love on the Menu, about a corporate executive and a chef who team up to launch a line of gourmet frozen meals while they try to save his restaurant from losing its star rating.

Parade.com sat down with Smith to talk about the movie and his role as entrepreneur Leland Coulter in the upcoming season of When Calls the Heart.

You wrote the script for Love on the Menu? What was your inspiration? Is this the first script you've written?

The inspiration was pretty simple. I love to cook and I thought I could pull off a chef. I’ve written a few scripts over the years but this is, in fact, the first one I’ve had produced.

Which is more difficult? Writing or acting?

Absolutely the writing. Again, I’m pretty green to it but at the end of the day trying to bend what you’ve written to what the network or studio wants is not an easy task. I have a ton of respect for writers.

You once told me you make a mean risotto. Does Chef Hank make a mean risotto in the movie?

You bet he does. It was the first dish in the script, Lobster Risotto. And I do make a mean lobster risotto.

I see that love is on the menu—what else is on the menu?

We really worked hard on trying to pull together a menu that would be convincing in a starred restaurant. We had a food stylist who was fantastic and made my character look like a pro. It was hard not to sneak bites. Too hard. I snuck bites.

Tell me something I might not know about Autumn Reeser.

Easy. The very first two things she told me about herself. She’s studying to be a shaman and she’s a compulsive shopper. Quite the mix. She’s awesome. We had a great time.

Do you have a favorite dessert?

That’s a long list. A very very long list.

Can you reveal anything about the new season of When Calls the Heart?

Well it’s a big year. Lots of BIG issues to deal with. Anytime you lose a major character there is a lot of work that has to be done. I can tell you that in true Hope Valley style the people come together and find a way to make things work. Lee and Rosy also have some very big stuff to deal with too. I hope folks tune in.

Are Lee and Rosemary going to start a family?

That is part of the BIG stuff I was just talking about. We do in fact start to address the family issue. I think people are gonna love it. A bit unexpected maybe.

Who's your favorite character on When Calls the Heart?

I’ve always been rather partial to Leland Coulter. So suave and debonair.

What's your go-to song to sing in the shower?

It’s a tune a wrote myself. I basically shout my kids names and tell them what needs to happen before Dad gets out of the shower and if it’s not done they have a big problem. It’s a catchy tune. I sing it every morning.

What's your favorite comfort food?

Anything with my wife in front of the fire.

Do you have a hidden talent?

Not a single one. I’m not the type to hide anything. Anything I can do is out there.

ls there a movie you can watch over and over again?

Casablanca. I think I’m at about 200 viewings. I do the same with certain books. I’ve been told I don’t like change.

Love on the Menu premieres Saturday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET. The new season of When Calls the Heart premieres Sunday, February 24 at 8 p.m. ET, both on Hallmark Channel.