The Book Nook

Food Fight   While nothing edible is actually tossed in this novel, insults and dirty tricks abound in “The Hundred-Foot Journey” by Richard. C. Morais.  This story about family and fate tracks a young boy from his humble beginnings in India before finally settling in France, following his improbable success as a Parisian chef. At a young age, Hassan Haji shows real talent in his family’s restaurant in the city of Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay).  His first memories revolve around the tantalizing smells and tastes of his family’s cooking, igniting a life-long interest in good food. He describes his grandfather’s struggle as a young man to carve out a living in hard times, first delivering lunch boxes and later starting a successful restaurant via hard work and sheer determination.  Nearly everyone in the family was involved in the business, pulling together for a common cause. Hassan’s loving mother made time for each of her children, taking them individually on day trips into Mumbai.  He recalls one such journey to a French restaurant, where she encouraged him to try new things because “variety provides spice to life”.  He never forgot that lesson nor the extraordinary taste of the food. When the restaurant passed to Hassan’s father, the boy continued to learn about cooking.  Things went smoothly until a poor decision triggered an unexpected tragedy.  Enraged by the outcome, Papa moved the family to England, hoping a change of venue would heal their emotional scars and give everyone a fresh start.  Unfortunately, neither hope was realized and Hassan’s father decided they should try their luck in France. A serendipitous stop at a tiny, picturesque town in the French Alps culminated in Papa’s decision to start the area’s first Indian restaurant - Maison Mumbai.   As before, each family member had a role and Hassan’s was the main chef.  He’s nervous but confident in Papa’s prediction that their family name will someday be known for great food.  But there are many challenges ahead. Maison Mumbai sits directly across from a popular French inn, which has long attracted diners from near and far with its gastronomical delights and excellent service.  At the helm is Madame Mallory, a sharp-tongue woman who has devoted her life to mastering classic French cuisine.  Employees find her to be a demanding task-master, but receive a well-rounded education in return.  During her long career she’s earned two Michelin stars and dreams of winning that coveted third star before she dies. While understandably miffed at having a new restaurant open practically on her doorstep, she’s wise enough to check out the competition on their opening night.  At the first few bites her heart sinks, realizing Hassan was born with a rare culinary talent any chef would envy. What starts as a not-too-friendly rivalry descends into a cultural clash that includes insults and underhanded schemes.  Madame Mallory and Papa are equally intent on gaining the upper hand with others caught in the middle.  Confrontations escalate into a disaster that threatens to rob more than one dream and the ensuing soul-searching brings an unexpected twist. This change eventually brings a sense of relief for everyone, although for me the plot sagged once peace was declared.  That aside, its It’s a carefully crafted tale about loyalty, ambition and fate.  Hassan paints loving pictures of his family members, giving us insight into both his origins and talents.  It is this sense of family togetherness that binds the plot together, including a bittersweet romance that adds an endearing angle.  The title refers to the physical distance between the two restaurants, representing a seemingly insurmountable cultural gap. Another plus is Morais’ wonderful use of phrasing in describing the food, characters and other items. His descriptions infuse the book with a love of food, showing how it does more than just nourish our bodies.  I was surprised to learn that the author isn’t a professional chef, given his thorough descriptions. Morais is a Canadian-American author who was the longest-serving foreign correspondent at Forbes, an American business magazine that focuses on industry, finance and marketing, among other topics.  He was a senior editor before starting this novel, his first. He hails from a family where the men are intuitive and self-taught cooks.  He bolstered those talents with food-related reading and talking his way into different kitchens to watch chefs at work.  Some off-beat and specialized food facts were sprinkled in occasionally, adding some amusing trivia.  Following the author’s acknowledgements are two recipes. The book came out in 2008 with a movie of the same name following in 2014.  The film features Hellen Mirren, Manish Dayal and Om Puri and was directed by Lasse Hallström, who directed another food-centric film - Chocolat.  If pushed to pick one, I’d go with the book as the film’s vast diversion from the original story detracted from my enjoyment.  Another option is to read the book shortly before seeing the movie to fill in the details. Those on a diet should definitely read this on a full stomach.  Those looking for a tale that celebrates family and food won’t be disappointed after reading this, although they may be hungry.