The Hundred-Foot Journey

Jan 28, 2013 Wanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: 3m-2013-challenge, fiction-and-literature, 2013

A book about food!

From humble beginnings - tiffin delivery -

A very good read indeed. From humble beginnings as a tiffin deliveryman, Hassan's grandparents built a restaurant. Having suffered a devastating loss at the hands of ill-minded individuals, the family packs up and leaves India bound for London. Things do not go as expected in London, and the family sets off in a multi-colored Mercedes Benz caravan to re-settle in a small mountain village in the French Alps. It is here that Hassan beg...more

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Jun 19, 2011 Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My passions in life are books and food, so foodie-lit is a great favourite of mine. I'm pleased to say that Richard C Morais' novel is a joy to read, a story to savour and lose yourself in.

The Haji family of Mumbai are a large, boisterous clan who come from a line of restauranteurs - back in the 1930s their grandparents started their business by delivering tiffin boxes (or lunchboxes here in the UK) to the office workers of Mumbai. Their business grew until they became well-respected members of...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It has been a while since my taste buds have been tempted by a good foodie story but the starvation diet is officially over with the consumption of this delicious read.

Hassan Haji, the second of a a family of six from Mumbai, knows from an early age that his destiny lies in the realm of food. In this simultaneously comic and poignant tale, we trace Hasssan's culinary development from the tiffin business established by his grandparents, their roadside restaurant for servicemen to the present day...more It has been a while since my taste buds have been tempted by a good foodie story but the starvation diet is officially over with the consumption of this delicious read.

Hassan Haji, the second of a a family of six from Mumbai, knows from an early age that his destiny lies in the realm of food. In this simultaneously comic and poignant tale, we trace Hasssan's culinary development from the tiffin business established by his grandparents, their roadside restaurant for servicemen to the present day prestige of the world of haute cuisine and much sought after Michelin stars.

After a winding trek across Europe in a caravan of 3 old Mercedes cars, the Hajis eventually settle in the isolated French village of Lumiere. It's a case of Bollywood versus Cordon Bleu as Hassan's father competes with Madame Mallory, an acclaimed French chef whose refined restaurant is situated opposite their ever so slightly more lurid establishment.

This is a delightful tale peopled with a medley of vivid characters, from Hassan's larger than life, outspoken father who contrasts sharply with the polished, elegant Madame Mallory, defender of classic haute cuisine. You can hear, smell and taste the ambiance of the Indian and French kitchens - it's probably advisable to eat before reading! It's fascinating to read about French cuisine's own internal rival factions -

"Chef Verdun was a master of that lard-heavy school of French cuisine that was just starting, at that time, to fall from favour, overtaken by the molecular cooking established by the fast-rising Chef Matiffe down in Aix-en-Provence."

As Hassan scales the echelons of French Haute Cuisine, battling the inherent racism and snobbery en route, he also has to figure out a way to steer his enterprise through the impending recession and tax hikes which are decimating so many successful French restaurants. Thus, the author manages to creates a story which draws on both olde worlde charm and the harsh reality of modern economics. I would be surprised if we didn't soon see this story being adapted for the movie screen (perhaps with "odorama"??) - highly recommended for all foodies who enjoy good storytelling and multi-cultural settings.

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Sep 03, 2010 julia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The woman chef in this book reminds me of the woman Valeria in Valeria's Last Stand. I thoroughly enjoyed that book as I am enjoying this one.

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Mar 10, 2013 THE BOOK SHUTTLE eBook Store rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, cooking

This is a novel for Foodies! It is a story that spans many generations of an Indian family, and their passion for cooking. After a major tragedy the Indian Haji family find themselves living in France and starting up an Indian restaurant, where they come across the hostile Madame Mallory owner of one of the best restaurants in France. She happens to own a hotel across the road from the strange Indian restaurant that has opened up in her quaint French town. The novel focuses around the main chara...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Chris Coleman rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Working on a book committee for our Library, I was encouraged to read this for our program this year. The colorful programming possibilities covering four cultures, a variety of foods, music and tastes was intriguing. Unfortunately the book falls short on several points and we probably will not be using it.

This is a very easy read, with good character development, easy to follow story and simple relationships. The author uses excellent descriptive language to draw you into the story, and it's n...more Working on a book committee for our Library, I was encouraged to read this for our program this year. The colorful programming possibilities covering four cultures, a variety of foods, music and tastes was intriguing. Unfortunately the book falls short on several points and we probably will not be using it.

This is a very easy read, with good character development, easy to follow story and simple relationships. The author uses excellent descriptive language to draw you into the story, and it's not hard to place yourself in the various colorful locales he uses in the story.

Without completely giving the ending away, I will say that while Hassan has his ups and downs during his coming of age period and while establishing his career, it finishes on a very high note. For those who like happy endings, this is a very good thing.

Now for the not so good... The author attempts to use an Indian/Arabic accent for the characters which seems contrived and forced. It doesn't sound accurate and in fact makes the characters a little less believable. He starts out with the narrator and main character in the book (Hassan Haji) describing intricate details about his grandfather in the food business in the 1950's including his cooking, ingredients, every smell, color, etc... And yet Hassan is born in 1975 and he is speaking in the first person. Ooops...

Next, Hassan's mother suffers a terrible tragedy and yet the author only spends about 1-1/2 pages covering that and moves on. For a child, this realistically should've been covered more thoroughly.

Then as Hassan moves past the age of 18, we see certain milestones in his life go by. His internship under Madame Mallory, his first serious relationship with Margaret, his acceptance as a chef at a prominent restaurant in Paris, the establishment of his own restaurant and reputation. Through this all I keep remembering that he was supposedly born in 1975 and the original copyright for this book was 2008 & 2010. By the end of the story he is 42 years old, which would make the year 2017.

The author mentions one recession around 2008, which would be historically correct, but then mentions another one around the time when Hassan is forty, which would be 2015. He also mentions a French war briefly, but adds no details. Is this a future war involving France?

He mentions Hassan's hands shaking briefly at the end of one chapter but then goes nowhere with that and it becomes a dead end in the story.

Finally the story makes numerous and detailed mention of the selection, hunting, slaughtering, preparation and consumption of numerous animals in almost every chapter. The use of blood for sauces, slit throats, automatic chicken processing, hunting juvenile boar, etc... While I'm not a vegetarian by any means, I can see how this book will clearly NOT appeal to any vegans out there.

So in summary, while the basic story is good, it has several problems which perhaps should've been worked out before publication. The contrived accents are unnecessary, the numerous and highly detailed references to slaughtering animals, the dismissal of his mother's death and the timeline problems all make the story less believable. (less)

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Jul 08, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, re-readable

I giggled when I read a review that called this book a cross between "Ratatouille and Slumdog Millionaire", but after finishing this excellent summer read I must agree that's pretty spot on! This book is such a joy to read. It's one of those books where you keep flipping back to the author's bio because you can't imagine how someone wrote this book from their imagination. The scenes were so rich and full of life I wanted it to be a memoire, not a work of fiction!

The larger than life characters s...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Jennifer Rayment rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Good Stuff

* Wonderfully vivid descriptions of the landscape and of the food
* Nice light humour
* Intriguing realistic characters
* The food is described so vividly you will become hungry while reading. I don't even like Indian food, but I was drooling by the descriptions
* I can definitely see this being made into a movie (author talks about this at the end in the acknowledgments)
* Nice simple story, that makes you both laugh and cry and encompasses the important theme of forgiveness
* Li...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Carla Ford rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of this novel. Beginning in Mumbai India and traveling around the world with Hassan Haji. This novel brought to life all of the sights and smells of India, beginning in Hassan's grandfather's restaurant in Mumbai. It also brought to life every idea I have about India, from the fast pace to the raucous outdoor markets (and also confirmed my belief that if I ever do to India, I need to take my own food!). What a wonderful journey Hassin made, even though it began i...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Parismaddy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hundred-Foot Journey: A Novel (Paperback)

The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais is like a warm beignet on a cold morning, both satisfying and scrumptious, and leaving one wanting another bite.

Hassan Haji and his family leave Bombay/Mumbai, India after the tragic death of Hassan's mother. The budding chef's journey is deftly told in not just geographic terms but in a rich layering of the smells and nuances of the prestigious French cooking world. The family ends up, via London, England...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A warm and wonderful novel about family and food.
The story is written in such a way that it appears inevitable that Hassan Haji will be a complete genius when it comes to food. The book begins by describing his family background, with evocative descriptions of their home and business. His grandfather had escaped village life to work in Mumbai, first as a dabba-wallah running tiffin boxes, and then on the eve of World War Two when his wife, Ammi, had the idea of selling snacks to the soldiers as...more

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Aug 30, 2010 Bailey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wanted to like Hassan. I really did. Truth is, however, I did not care what happened to him. There was no connection, and I did not understand his voice and views throughout the novel. A couple of bad things happened to him, and I found myself unsympathetic and uncaring - harsh, I know! I felt more for a couple of his family members than for him (the protagonist), which wasn't a good sign. Several years of Hassan's life are just omitted or barely referenced, so this may have been the cause for...more

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Aug 22, 2010 Literary Feline rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Those of you who know me well, know I am not fond of the kitchen. I like to eat (although lately, not so much), but my tastes are rather simple. Therefore, I am not sure I would feel at home in a high class French restaurant. So what was it that drew me to a book like The Hundred-Foot Journey, a novel about a young Indian boy who pursues his dream of becoming a famous French chef? It certainly wasn't the elaborate descriptions of food and slaving over a hot stove. I do, however, enjoy an inspiri...more Those of you who know me well, know I am not fond of the kitchen. I like to eat (although lately, not so much), but my tastes are rather simple. Therefore, I am not sure I would feel at home in a high class French restaurant. So what was it that drew me to a book like The Hundred-Foot Journey, a novel about a young Indian boy who pursues his dream of becoming a famous French chef? It certainly wasn't the elaborate descriptions of food and slaving over a hot stove. I do, however, enjoy an inspiring story about reaching for one's dreams. And I like going behind the scenes in worlds or lives I am not familiar with, including getting a look inside the workings of a restaurant.

The Hundred-Foot Journey is not a deep novel, nor is it one I would label as a light read. Hassan Haji retells his life story, about his beginnings in the family kitchen in India to his eventual training in a haute cuisine French restaurant in Lumiére, just one hundred feet away from his family's own Indian restaurant and then onto strike it on his own in Paris. His family is forced to flee India after a tragic event that destroys everything his family worked. The family's relocation to France is met with some resistance, as is their attempt to establish themselves in the restaurant business there.

There was a distance in the telling of the story, and it made getting to truly know Hassan difficult on some level. However, from what I did learn about him and his life, I liked and admired him. He has a natural talent for cooking and even his chief rival cannot deny it.

Overall, it was an enjoyable book on one hand, but lacking on the other. I really would like to have gotten to know Hassan more. But there was a simplicity to the novel that was quite appealing. I enjoyed reading the behind the scene descriptions of shopping in the market for the freshest foods, the search for the perfect venue, spending time with Hassan's family, and seeing Hassan go from a young boy still trying to find his way to reaching his dreams.(less)

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Aug 17, 2010 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Hundred-Foot Journey is the story of Hassan Haji, a young Indian boy who grows up above his grandfather's restaurant in Mumbai. A tragic incident prompts his family to flee to France were Hassan shows an unexpected talent and taste for haute cuisine. The novel follows his ensuing career as a chef and the fate of his family in France.

The first part of the book centers on Hassan's family, his history and the importance of food in his life. The writing is lush, very descriptive of the tastes, s...more

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Aug 11, 2010 Teresa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It has been a while since my taste buds have been tempted by a good foodie story but the starvation diet is officially over with the consumption of this delicious read.

Hassan Haji, the second of a a family of six from Mumbai, knows from an early age that his destiny lies in the realm of food. In this simultaneously comic and poignant tale, we trace Hasssan's culinary development from the tiffin business established by his grandparents, their roadside restaurant for servicemen to the present day...more It has been a while since my taste buds have been tempted by a good foodie story but the starvation diet is officially over with the consumption of this delicious read.

Hassan Haji, the second of a a family of six from Mumbai, knows from an early age that his destiny lies in the realm of food. In this simultaneously comic and poignant tale, we trace Hasssan's culinary development from the tiffin business established by his grandparents, their roadside restaurant for servicemen to the present day prestige of the world of haute cuisine and much sought after Michelin stars.

After a winding trek across Europe in a caravan of 3 old Mercedes cars, the Hajis eventually settle in the isolated French village of Lumiere. It's a case of Bollywood versus Cordon Bleu as Hassan's father competes with Madame Mallory, an acclaimed French chef whose refined restaurant is situated opposite their ever so slightly more lurid establishment.

This is a delightful tale peopled with a medley of vivid characters, from Hassan's larger than life, outspoken father who contrasts sharply with the polished, elegant Madame Mallory, defender of classic haute cuisine. You can hear, smell and taste the ambiance of the Indian and French kitchens - it's probably advisable to eat before reading! It's fascinating to read about French cuisine's own internal rival factions -

"Chef Verdun was a master of that lard-heavy school of French cuisine that was just starting, at that time, to fall from favour, overtaken by the molecular cooking established by the fast-rising Chef Matiffe down in Aix-en-Provence."

As Hassan scales the echelons of French Haute Cuisine, battling the inherent racism and snobbery en route, he also has to figure out a way to steer his enterprise through the impending recession and tax hikes which are decimating so many successful French restaurants. Thus, the author manages to creates a story which draws on both olde worlde charm and the harsh reality of modern economics. I would be surprised if we didn't soon see this story being adapted for the movie screen (perhaps with "odorama"??) - highly recommended for all foodies who enjoy good storytelling and multi-cultural settings.
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Jul 25, 2010 Chocolate & Croissants rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Richard Morais' book The Hundred Foot Journey is a culinary feast that will have you sampling the lives of families, dreams and my favorite topic, food. To truly appreciate the nuances of the book one probably needs to be somewhat of a gastronome with an understanding of the history and culture of food in France.

Who did I hear about this book? I had the pleasure of meeting the author at the BBC reception in NYC. Morais is a former editor for Forbes magazine. He resided in London and is now back...more
Richard Morais' book The Hundred Foot Journey is a culinary feast that will have you sampling the lives of families, dreams and my favorite topic, food. To truly appreciate the nuances of the book one probably needs to be somewhat of a gastronome with an understanding of the history and culture of food in France.

Who did I hear about this book? I had the pleasure of meeting the author at the BBC reception in NYC. Morais is a former editor for Forbes magazine. He resided in London and is now back in the US.

Why did I decide to read it? The author did a great job of self promoting his book-although this was not a hard sell for me. I knew it was about an Indian family and food. ( I cannot remember if I knew that they would go to France-just saying food, India and France would be enough for me). PS. I am a shallow cover reader and I really like the cover of this book.

Morais tells the story of the Haji family. The title of the book, The Hundred Foot Journey is symbolic of the Haji's acceptance into the community and the Hassan's journey. From a small food stand in India, the family finds their calling and success in life. As often happens in life, circumstances takes the family from the warmth and hospitality of India, to the dampness of England. While on a road trip on the continent the family settles into a little village, Lumierie nestled in the French countryside complete with cobblestone streets and a daily market.

The Hundred Foot Journey tells the story of the Haji family, life as migrants and the story of the French's relationship with food. Throughout the book, Morais shares the intimacy that the French have with their food. Morais makes reference to the bible of French cooking, The Escoffier, the treasured Michelin ratings, France's 35 hour work week and the dreaded Vat. It was these small truffles that Morais has inserted into the book that made it truly special for me. I am not sure if the average reader who is not familiar with the French food culture would appreciate these little details.

I found it interesting that he had the Haji's settling in France England would have been more obvious. I am not sure if I have ever seen an Indian restaurant in France. Morais was able to both characterize the differences between the two cultures and have demonstrate their clashing through his three main characters, the patriarch of the family, his son and Mrs. Mallory the spinster French chef.

Was there anything I did not like-200 pages into the book there was some unnecessary adult language-why he chose the English words I do not know, there may be the French equivalent-cannot say as my knowlege of French slang is lacking.

I also wished he had included some recipes. (less)

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Sep 08, 2011 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In The Hundred-Foot Journey we read about the journey of Hassan Haji to become a great chef. It begins with him living in Mumbai with his large, eccentric family. Throughout the section in India Morais gives detailed descriptions of the food that Hassan grew up with and loved. We also get introduced to his family, the two most memorable being his mother and father. His father is a larger than life character that is fun to read about and his mother is more quiet and nurturing.

After a family trag...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Emily Crowe rated it 2 of 5 stars

If half-stars were allowed for ratings, this one would be 2.5 for me.

Isn't this book cover gorgeous? The Hundred Foot Journey by Richard Morais is the story of a young Indian boy whose family emigrates first to England, then to France, after the matriarch dies in a riot in Mumbai. The boy has a knack in the kitchen and in fact grows up to be the first foreign-born chef in France to earn 3 Michelin stars. I wanted to love it--the very promising blurbs and the starred reviews, not to mention the...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Kiersten Schiffer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is delightful storytelling that reads like a memoir. If follows the life of an Indian boy with a gift for cooking through his life in Mumbai, London, France and then Paris. The descriptions of the food and it's preparation is wonderful, but may be a bit boring to those that are not real "foodies". It certainly made me want to run out and try all the Indian food he was describing! Those that love food will like this book. The writing is compelling and the settings are beautiful!

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Oct 08, 2010 Deb rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a fun book for foodie readers. A Muslim Indian boy, Hassan Haji, grows up to be one of the leading chefs in France, which of course means one of the best chefs in the world. The story takes us from hot, hardscrabble India to damp London to the foot of the French Alps, with yummy food adventures every step of the way. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, up through the part where the extended Indian family sets down in rural France and opens Maison Mumbai across the street from a...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Tuck rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this started out really good, with protag growing up in mumbai and his family owning a restaurante and disco. then mother dies in a tragic hindi's vs Muslims fire/riot, so family moves to England, then does an eating tour of europe and serendipitously end up in hillbilly France across the road from a great french resataurante. then protag trains under the old french chef, then he moves to pairs and opens his own hashhouse and finally gets a 3rd Michelin star. end of story. i thought it was reall...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Linda rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Good storyline, lots of interesting cooking tidbits and a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at restaurant life. Unfortunately, if you don't like French cuisine or homey Indian cooking, which apparently include a lot of internal organs as well as feet, you may not find this book so appetizing. There is also an issue of narrative point of view - much of the book is the boy talking, but then suddenly there is a switch to the omniscent narrator, which doesn't make sense. I would have liked more his...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Kiwiflora rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The reviews are glowing - from other novelists, celebrity chefs, a successful screenwriter, industry magazines, even Oprah. The concept of the story is intriguing - young man, born of the Mumbai slums who becomes a celebrity chef in Paris of all places. And yet... for me it just did not work as well as I was expecting.

The author is a journalist, who appears to have had a very successful career with amongst others Forbes magazine for whom he was foreign correspondent for many years in London and...more The reviews are glowing - from other novelists, celebrity chefs, a successful screenwriter, industry magazines, even Oprah. The concept of the story is intriguing - young man, born of the Mumbai slums who becomes a celebrity chef in Paris of all places. And yet... for me it just did not work as well as I was expecting.

The author is a journalist, who appears to have had a very successful career with amongst others Forbes magazine for whom he was foreign correspondent for many years in London and Europe. He obviously has a very deep love and appreciation of food and cooking, is well travelled, and has moved amongst the ranks of the rich and famous.I don't think anyone could write so beautifully and evocatively about cooking and the magic that occurs when ingredients are combined in certain ways without being a gastronome of some sort. In his acknowledgements he talks about his close and long standing friendship with Ismail Merchant of movie producer group Merchant and Ivory. He says this book is a 'homage' to his friend, in that they had talked that the book, once published, would eventually become a Merchant Ivory movie. Sadly Mr Merchant died before this could happen. So I feel quite comfortable saying that the book definitely has that waiting for a movie to happen feel about it. The author also seems to have developed close friendships with a number of well-known chefs, not that that is a bad thing, but I just had this nagging feeling there was just a bit of name dropping going on, that the whole thing was more about the author and his life, than it was about what he has written about. Take a look at his website in the author link and see what you think...

Anyway the story itself. Hassan Haji hails from the slums in Mumbai, born into a Muslim family who operates a very successful restaurant on the edge of the slums. After a terrible tragedy destroys the heart of the family, the father sells the business and the family moves to London for a short and not very pleasant time. By this time Hassan is a teenager. To escape the continuing unhappiness in their lives, the father takes the whole family to Europe, eventually ending up in the town of Lumiere, home to a two-star Michelin restaurant owned by the formidable Madame Mallory. Haji senior decides to open an Indian establishment directly across the road. Not a good move. After a protracted period of professional confict, everything is eventually resolved and Hassan goes onto to enjoy success as a chef.

The first half of the book is terrific in its very vivid descriptions of Hassan's early life in Mumbai, the tastes and colours of the food leap off the page and you can almost taste what is being cooked. In France too, the descriptions of the town food markets, the complicated nature of French haute cuisine - some of which would make your stomach turn, not recommended for vegetarians - are so vivid and gorgeous, even a trip into the countryside to collect mushrooms makes you want to pack your bags and go. I loved all that part of it.

But that is probably all I loved. The plot is very predictable, the characters for the most part one dimensional, predictable and to a large extent stereotyped. There were some oddities such as how does a Muslim family from the slums of India suddenly find themselves able to communicate and be understood in the heartland of the French countryside. And in the 1980s, which I guess is when much of this is set, what French town would have all the spices and condiments necessary to whip a good biryani?

I also found the story started to lose its thread in the last quarter once Hassan makes it to Paris. Rather than a feast for the senses as the rest of the book has been, the last part focuses on Hassan as a famous celebrity chef and the pressures that places on him. It all just got a bit too hand-wringy and navel gazing for me - I wanted more about food! I wonder if the author simply had had enough of the story and just wanted to wind it up. I am sure it will make a wonderful movie, visually it could be beautiful, I just hope it remains about the food and the love of cooking and not some sort of 'feed the fragile ego of the celebrity chef' promotion. I think we are probably a bit over the celebrity chef self promotion merry go round. But do read it for the food!!!(less)

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Jan 09, 2013 Fine-art rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Schade, schade - das Buch hat leider überhaupt nicht gehalten, was ich mir von ihm versprochen habe.

Ein Buch über einen jungen Inder, der sich in Frankreich zum Spitzenkoch mausert - das hätte ein sinnliches Erlebnis werden können. Wenn so viel über Kochkunst und ausgefallene Gerichte geschrieben wird wie hier, dann müsste mir doch das Wasser im Mund zusammenlaufen und das Lesen fast zur Qual werden. Aber nichts dergleichen, ich empfinde kaum etwas beim Lesen, die Beschreibungen wirken auf mich...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Arti rated it 3 of 5 stars

How do you get to Paris from Bombay? Food, Food, Food.

What better transport is there than a light vehicle that can provide a fun and wild ride, taking me out of Midnight’s Children‘s Bombay to my next destination, Paris in July? Thanks to Karen of Book Bath for organizing the trip.

This delightful, breezy read is that speedy transit. It tells the story of Hassan Haji, a Muslim boy who lives above his grandfather’s restaurant in then Bombay and how he ultimately ends up as a three-star chef in Par...more How do you get to Paris from Bombay? Food, Food, Food.

What better transport is there than a light vehicle that can provide a fun and wild ride, taking me out of Midnight’s Children‘s Bombay to my next destination, Paris in July? Thanks to Karen of Book Bath for organizing the trip.

This delightful, breezy read is that speedy transit. It tells the story of Hassan Haji, a Muslim boy who lives above his grandfather’s restaurant in then Bombay and how he ultimately ends up as a three-star chef in Paris.

Growing up immersed in the savoury aroma of Indian food and spices:

"I suspect my destiny was written from the very start, for my first sensation of life was the smell of machli ka salan, a spicy fish curry, rising through the floorboards to the cot…"

Hassan is endowed with an exceptional gift of culinary talent. After the Partition and the death of his grandfather, religious and political turmoils push his family out of the country. They first land in London, later immigrate to France. The boisterous family finds a home in the resort village Lumière near the Alps and starts its own restaurant Maison Mumbai, serving Indian dishes and bringing a welcome change to the villagers.

Hassan soon is jealously noticed by the veteran, feisty two-star French Chef Madame Mallory across the street. She is the proprietor of the small country hotel, Le Saule Pleureur. Her restaurant is a haute French culinary establishment that plays Satie in contrast to the Indian music from a loudspeaker at the Haji’s. After many animated and almost cartoonish conflicts between Madame Mallory and Hassan’s Papa, Abbas Haji, both concede to the reconciliatory move of allowing Hassan to become Chef Mallory’s apprentice.

Thus, Hassan takes the one hundred-foot journey and crosses the street to stay at Le Saule Pleureur, learn all he can from the great Chef and answer ‘the irrefutable call of destiny’ to be one himself. Towards the end of his apprenticeship, Hassan is left on his own to create recipes for pigeons, gigot, and hare, all to the satisfaction of Chef Mallory. After three years under her wings, Hassan is ready to move on.

To Continue Reading, CLICK HERE.(less)

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May 26, 2011 Jeanine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a little hard to get into for me, but only because the description of "home" for the main character was so foreign to me that it didn't fit into my narrow view of home. It really grew on me once I relaxed and just let myself live through the characters' eyes. Strong and vibrantly written; I could really see the hectic home life of Hassan with his loud family in their new restaurant, directly at odds with the peaceful French restaurant directly across the street. I grew to dislike M...more

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Jan 11, 2011 Jacki Leach rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Every now and then, when I least expect it, a little gem pops up in my book pile.

'The Hundred-Foot Journey' is just such a gem.

'Journey' is not full of action or sex or mystical wanderings. It is a quiet little read; something perfect for bedtime, or a lazy Sunday.

The beauty of the story is found in the relationship established between a young East Indian boy (who has a talent for the culinary trade) and his neighbor, a cantankerous Michelin-star French chef.

Difficulties arise for the boy and h...more

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Sep 06, 2010 S rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was lent to me by my avid reading neighbor who lends me so many of the books I read and this one is a GEM! She told me that she thought I would love it and I did. This is the author Richard Morais's first novel. Before that he was the longest standing foreign correspondent (based out of London) for FORBES magazine. He is not even of Indian descent which makes this novel an even bigger accomplishment for the story is that of an Indian immigrant in the kitchens of French haute cuisine.

Th...more

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Sep 16, 2010 May-Ling rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

this novel was truly magnificent. for some reason i've been on a food novels kick, so i expected another light book, but this one has it all. the setting starts in india where hassan haji grows up in a volatile area of india, in his parents restaurant. as the book progresses, we follow hassan as he enters the cooking world himself. the title refers to this moment after the hajis have landed in france, when hassan walks a hundred yards to their neighbor to enter the world of french cooking.

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May 11, 2011 Jan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is now in paperback; this was one of my favorite books of 2010. It is about food, love, Paris and family. It is truly lovely and also a great read for gerontologist; one of the primary characters is going through a life review with such regret and then gets a happy ending. Foodies will love this book. I can't recall when I finished it last year but I believe it was in August.

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New York Times Book Review	1	14	Aug 23, 2010 04:59pm
IndieBound - next great reads	1	10	Jul 05, 2010 12:28pm

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9895914-the-hundred-foot-journey?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348380572l/9895914.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9895914-the-hundred-foot-journey?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais[/url]

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