Ep 5. Trademark Trouble

In the fifth episode of the seventh season of Mystery Diners, titled "Trademark Trouble," the team heads to a restaurant in Pittsburgh called Panini Pete's. The owner, Peter, has been experiencing a decline in business over the past few months, despite having a successful first year of operation. He suspects that his former chef, Todd, who left to start his own restaurant, may be responsible for stealing his recipes and driving customers away.

To get to the bottom of the issue, Charles Stiles sends in his team of Mystery Diners, who pose as customers to investigate the situation. They discover that Todd's new restaurant has a strikingly similar menu to Panini Pete's, and many of the dishes have identical names and descriptions. Additionally, the Mystery Diners uncover evidence that suggests Todd may be using stolen recipes from Panini Pete's.

As the investigation unfolds, tensions rise between Peter and Todd, who end up having a heated confrontation in the restaurant. The Mystery Diners swoop in to diffuse the situation, and ultimately reveal the truth behind the recipe theft. In the end, Peter is able to reclaim his stolen recipes and restore his business's reputation.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the restaurant industry, and learn about the importance of trademarking recipes and other intellectual property. The Mystery Diners also provide valuable advice and insights for restaurant owners looking to protect their businesses from these types of situations.

Overall, "Trademark Trouble" is a thrilling and informative episode of Mystery Diners that showcases the team's investigative prowess and highlights the challenges facing small business owners in the competitive restaurant industry.