I really enjoy reading books about food and cooking, whether they are memoirs or novels. Richard C. Morais’s book The Hundred-Foot Journey is another contribution to this genre.
We read about the rise of Hassan Haji, the unlikely gourmand who recounts his life’s journey. Born above his grandfather’s modest restaurants in Mumbai, Hassan first experienced life through intoxicating whiffs of spicy fish curry with his grandma, trips to the local markets with his grandpa, and gourmet outings at a French restaurant with his mother. But when tragedy pushes the family out of India, they console themselves by eating their way around the world, eventually settling in Lumière, a small village in the French Alps.
The boisterous Haji family takes Lumière by storm. They open an inexpensive Indian restaurant opposite an esteemed French relais – that of the famous chef Madame Mallory – and infuse the sleepy town with the spices ofIndia, transforming the lives of its eccentric villagers and infuriating their celebrated neighbor. Only after Madame Mallory wages culinary war with the immigrant family, does she finally agree to mentor young Hassan, leading him to Paris, the launch of his own restaurant, and a slew of new adventures.
While this is the author’s first novel, he has been a writer throughout his career. Morais, formerly a senior editor and foreign correspondent at Forbes, has done impeccable research. This book appealed to me because it led me on a rich, sensory-filled trip with the descriptions of spices, seasonings, Indian and French cuisines, and basics of food preparations. I loved the story-telling aspect and the nostalgic feel in the first part of the book. With the addition of humour, Morais explored other themes such as cultural clashes and family drama. According to an interview, the author would like readers to think about the deeper issues: “How do we, in this noisy world, find our destiny or calling, particularly when it is at odds with our family and culture? How do we find our “home” in a frenetic world where people are increasingly of mixed heritage and often moving from place to place?”
Attention culinary aficionados, the book The Hundred-Foot Journey is apparently in active film development and hopefully will be on the big screen one day soon.
Posted by Christina, Reference Librarian
