The Hundred-Foot Journey

This review is originally posted at www.CookandBooks.com This was the first book I've read in this category, and it's also the first book I've read based so heavily upon food. Richard Morais's The Hundred-Foot Journey is a story greatly centralized around the burgeoning growth of Hassan Haji - a budding young chef in his family's clan. Morais focuses heavily for the first half of the novel upon the Haji family's relationship with that of Madame Mallory a Michelin star chef 100 feet across from their newly established Indian restaurant. The three most prominent characters in this whole novel are Hassan, Abbas, and Madame Mallory. Hassan is by far the most centric character in The Hundred-Foot Journey as this book is largely taken from his first-person narrative, and we get to experience his journey as a young teen to an older man in the end. Abbas is the true old-fashioned patriarch, and he truly plays the part through every bit of his interactions. By far the one character that really led me to believe that hey were real was Madame Mallory. The insight that Morais gives us into Madame Mallory's life is insightful, and totally relatable for those of us that have lost out time and again on something we hold dear. It also highlights the nature of our own personal beasts that we tend to harbor and grow like a cancer when we are not at peace with our own selves. Madame Mallory is also relatable in regards to how she is willing to admit wrongs done, and the capability of making amends in her own way. It is through her development as a character that we see Hassan develop from a fledgling chef in his own family's restaurant to Madame Mallory's student of traditional French cuisine. As Hassan grows more with his skill as a chef, it becomes more prominent that he has now outgrown the teachings of Madame Mallory and a new direction for him becomes clear. This change from Lumiere to Paris however is where I found The Hundred-Foot Journey to begin its lapse from engaging, to tepid. The spice of The Hundred-Foot Journey was with characters back in Lumiere, from Madame Mallory, Abbas, and the rest of the Haji clan. Unfortunately Morais took Hassan and stopped developing him personally as a character - instead focusing on his development as a chef. Morais treated Hassan more like a kitchen instrument that cooks the food, as opposed to a character in his own right. Or that at least is how I felt. To be honest I felt so disappointed, like I had been in a spicy relationship, only to have it's flavor cooked out as opposed to honed. The other thing that really killed this novel for me was Morais poor execution of narrative. The Hundred-Foot Journey starts out as a first-person narrative, but then becomes a third-person narrative when needed. Sadly the third-person narrative of Madame Mallory is truly the only real character development he was able to execute through the novel. To me it was a shame because I've read novels before based on first-person narrative in which the character is amazingly developed, as well as any other characters they interact with. I could just be biased, but character development for me is the number one thing that I find important in a novel. At most an author could have poor grammar, some crappy clichés, and dead sections but as long as the character is engaging it covers up such basic errors. Instead Hassan's lack of character only accentuates Morais's constant run-on sentences, and poorly chosen sexual innuendos. In the end, I still can't shut out how much I liked the first half of this novel. It was engaging, colorful, and vibrant. In the end though a strong start doesn't finish out a novel, it's really every aspect that makes or breaks you. Richard Morais is a talented writer I'm certain, but for me this novel really didn't do it for me. If you want a novel that is entertaining at parts, an easy read for those boring days, and something that makes you want to cook - then pick up a copy of The Hundred-Foot Journey. To me it's been shelved in my "Not to Read Again" list...My rating: 2.5 out of 5 Stars.If any of you have read this book, I'd love your thoughts. Do you feel that I'm way off the mark in my review? Or did I touch upon some of the things that you may have found lacking as well?I'd love anyone's thoughts and feelings on this book, as I love to see what other people caught that I didn't.If any of you haven't read the book, and don't think you will then you can get some aspect of it in the movie's rendition of The Hundred-Foot Journey.After I finished this novel, Ricky and I went to see the movie (come on it's Steven Spielberg!) Like most movie adaptations of books - it was different, but highly enjoyable all the same.

After learning that Oprah and Steven Speilberg had made a movie about this book and that it involves an Indian chef, I knew I had to read "The Hundred Food Journey". Hassan Haji was born just outside the Mumbai slums. As a Muslim, although a particularly devout one, he and his family were in the minority. Hassan learned to cook in the warm bosom of his family. Beautiful descriptions of Indian food leave your mouth watering.After a terrible family tragedy and selling the family business for a large amount of money, (considering it was located just outside the slums--a little hard to believe) the Haji family moves to London. London is gray, dark and dreary and apparently, to Hassan, has no really great food. Hassan still searches for delicious food and opportunities to cook.The family then decides to move to the French countryside where they buy property and open a restaurant. Across the street from their new business endeavor is the restaurant of famous French chef, Madame Mallory. Here, cultures and cuisines clash, an accident happens, a door is open, critters slaughtered, gross things eaten and a hard soul is softened.Hassan then moves to Paris where he works diligently to make his dream of being a three star Michelin chef come true. Here he connects with the rich and famous, and hones his craft.This book closely follows a similar plot to "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. Each part of the book is based on experiences in the location.In the first part of "EPL", Elizabeth Gilbert is not able to embrace her potential. In this book, Hassan is not meeting his potential.The second part of "EPL" finds Elizabeth Gilbert eating her way through Italy. Here, Hassan is unable to eat his way through England because the food was so bad.The third part of "EPL", Elizabeth Gilbert is whining her way to spiritual awakening. Hassan is myopically trudging his way to culinary awakening.Finally, in the final section of "EPL", dreams come true for Elizabeth Gilbert--she finds love. In the final section of this book, Hassan finds culinary excellence.One thing that is good about the book is that I have visited all the areas that Hassan called home. Morais hit the nail on the head with his descriptions of Mumbai, the French countryside and Paris. He missed the boat with London.I call this a nice little pretentious book. The plot is nice, not great and not particularly educational.Yes, I get that book is about a culinary journey. I also understand that you can not write words that can actually be tasted.What I found pretentious included the name dropping of wines that 90% of readers have never heard of nor tried and I felt like I was being talked down to regarding technique. To me it felt like the author was bragging about what great things he had eaten and the wines he drank for his research. Yes, I get that the general public will never experience these culinary adventures. To his credit, the author did make me want to sample the foods he discussed (well most of them).In this book, Hassan, like Elizabeth Gilbert, is self-centered, not caring about anyone (beyond immediate family in Hassan's case) in a deep and caring way until the end of the book. Hassan is a culinary social climber who enjoys being jet-setted around the world by wealthy culinary demigods.The "little part" is my way of saying this is a nice simple read if you are looking for a nice story. It should have been a quick read for me but I found myself putting it aside to read the news instead.

Buyer beware -- this is a story for foodies! If food is not your great interest, skip it. Hassan Haji, the main character, has an innate talent for cooking, recognised by the former enemy of his family, Chef Mallory, who has her own successful restaurant. But first there are fireworks when the large Indian family arrives in her town in the Jura, promptly buys a mansion, and then turn it into an Indian restaurant, just opposite hers. She did not take kindly to this "invasion"!It is, however, never explained how an extended family from India can simply take up residence in Britain, and then decamp to France, tour the country, and when one of their cars break down in a small town, stay right there, buy a huge mansion and open a restaurant! I mean, France has immigration laws!! Never once is it suggested that the family has any problems simply taking up residence in a French town!Hassan Haji, only a youth at the start of the book, becomes a highly successful chef (no spoilers, and anyway, too long to summarize here). The problem is, his run of luck is just too good to be true. No, the story is pure fiction, and it gripped me as it went on, but the author pulled rabbits out of hats for Hassan! The characterization is good in some instances, and as far as other characters go, not so good. There are some gaps in the story, and for me the book ended rather abruptly when not all problems had been sorted out yet. It's also never explained how the young Hassan managed to give up his Indian cooking heritage at the drop of a hat, and turn into a classic French cook.I cannot deny that I enjoyed the book very much. I have not seen the film so cannot draw comparisons. But as a work of fiction it does have some flaws.

This is a lovely novel that is narrated by Hassan Haji as if it were his memoir. The book starts off in Mumbai, then moves to west London and following a European road trip, the extended Haji family decide rural France is where they will find the happiness they have been searching for since leaving Mumbai.In the small French village of Lumière they open an Indian restaurant where talented cook Hassan is the chef. Things for the family don’t always go to plan, especially as the village is already home to a Michelin starred restaurant whose owner Madame Mallory is less than happy with their arrival and a war of the restaurants begins. However, Madame Mallory has underestimated both their ‘pick yourself up, dust yourself down and move on’ attitude, as well as Hassan’s natural talent in the kitchen. Could he achieve what she has only dreamed of, a second Michelin star?The characters are colourful, there is plenty of humour and I really felt I was among the chaos that was his family. This book is packed full of family drama, trauma, discrimination, but also passion and determination. They have their lucky breaks, but hard work also plays its part in Hassan’s rise to fame in the elite French culinary world. This is real feel good book where the flavours of France and India come alive from the pages. Be prepared to feel hungry!

Anticipating the film, I read the book first. The story is recounted by Hassan and falls into three parts - India, provincial France and Paris - each the setting for a particular restaurant.In Mumbai, he is the young son of a Muslim restauranteur who builds a business from scratch. This part is of life in Mumbai, the way Indians eat and squabble, and the large supportive family. Really pictorial, the whole scene comes to life.The family are forced to leave and eventually settle in a small French town where they set up another restaurant. The story here is partly of life in France, but mainly centred on a feud between them and a neighbouring restaurant. Here Hassan is growing up, learning to be a chef. Again, very descriptive of country life, spiced up by the feud.Finally, Hassan moves to work in Paris, eventually forming his own restaurant. This part is the least satisfactory as it gets rather too foody - lots of dish descriptions - and seems to plod along. Interesting illumination of the way that The French state depresses business, through taxation and labour laws - and we think we are badly done by! Also a glimpse into the Michelin restaurant culture and how it is changing.Overall though, its the people who stand out. Hassan's relatives, particularly his Papa, are vivid characters as are neighbours and friends, even market traders jump from the page. Recommended reading.Not seen the film yet, but from the blurb it picks out just the second part - a shame as theres a lot going on elsewhere in this book that deserves a screening.

This is an affectionate portrayal of the life story of a top chef, Indian by birth but French by calling. His discovery and education by a somewhat reclusive eminence grise is decently and amusingly handled, with the picture of family life Indian style convincing, though I don't doubt that those with insider knowledge will find plenty to query. There are amusing incidents, a little light romance, in fact all the right ingredients.I would commend the decent grammar, and the absence of the obvious slack proofing which so frequently mars modern writing, technically this is exemplary.So why just 3 stars? Well, I found that this faded a bit, with the early life both more interesting and better written than the later portion. How appropriate that a key plot device surrounds the awarding (or not?) of star reviews, and that this should be so clearly telegraphed early on that this is hardly a spoiler.I suspect that this will have made a better film, as it seems to have been intended, with plenty of scope for good photographers and actors to strut their stuff. The writing is quite visual, sadly the "smellivision" which this really needs is, so far, only science fiction.I wanted to like this book, the appetisers and entree were good, but I have to admit to feeling a bit "Ho, hum" when I reached the final courses.

Many contributors have given a synopsis of the novel (particularly brilliant one by The Wolf) and I shall refrain from being repetitive.The novel is very well-researched, well-written and succeeds in engaging the attention of the reader. It is light-hearted and makes for a charming read. All the characters are portrayed vividly and the memory of each one lingers....For me, the novel struck a chord at several levels: sectarianism and inhumanity, racism as a result of ignorance/mindset and overcoming prejudices, nurturing of relationships (family and friends), ambition and soul-searching at the price success demands, insight into haute cuisine (European) and the rise and demise of chefs as determined by Michelin grading and media hype.The novel is set in several locations (India and Europe) and travelling across these with the Hajji family arouses 'wanderlust'. At the heart of the novel is the delightful culinary journey from the Mumbai street food stalls to the inexpensive food stalls in Camden (London), to Harrods' food halls, to the bistros and restaurants in Europe to the 3 star Michelin establishments in Paris.The culinary descriptions of each dish (toooo many to list) have the taste buds rioting as the smells and sights engulf one. Culinary expressions are not limited to dishes: 'the night was as black as a boudin noir'; 'the sea outside (Marseille at night) seemed pumped full of squid ink'; 'the sun was setting, like a mango sorbet dripping over the horizon'; 'her (Madame Mallory) eyes glistened like Spanish olives'; 'the early weeks of that trip through Europe were like the first taste of a creme brulee'.. Even art work mentioned has a culinary theme: Chardin's Grey Partridge, Gaugin's The Meal, the Last Supper.The Hundred Foot Journey will not fail to please......

My sister-in-law has just started chemo and each session lasts 3 hours. I wanted to send her something that would take her mind off everything for those three hours and so I sent her The Hundred Foot Journey. Here's what she said: "From the moment I started reading, I was out there in Mumbai and totally involved in the lives of the characters and the food etc. By the end of my chemo session, I had travelled to London, on through Europe and arrived in La Lumiére for the grand opening of the new Indian Restaurant. This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time."I loved this book too and if you are looking for a bit of escape, I can thoroughly recommend The Hundred Foot Journey.