Eager to convince Richard she is a gourmet French chef, Patty lies and enlists aid of Cathy to actually cook the meal for dinner. But when Cathy is called away to meet one of her father's French friends at the airport, Patty tries (among other unsuccessful ploys) to have a local French restaurant cater the meal but is stymied upon learning the menu she has planned is so elaborate it will require four days' advance notice. Yet when Cathy explains Patty's plight to her father's friend moments before Richard is scheduled to arrive for dinner, he makes a phone call and somehow is able to have a restaurant deliver the same labor-intensive menu delivered to Patty's home just in time for scheduled dinner.
No chef would have prepared a Baked Alaska ahead of time to be eaten later. Such a desert must be prepared just before serving, otherwise it would be a gooey mess by the time it was time for dessert.