Morais, the foreign correspondent for Forbes over the past twenty years, combines his insights as an ex-patriot with his love of food, telling the story of Hassan Haji, an Indian Muslim, brought up in Mumbai. We get a taste of Mumbai in the early 70's, as his parents open a restaurant in the poorer part of town, where Hassan first develops his interest in food. Unfortunately, as times change, as the property becomes more valuable, the Haji's are victims of an Hindu pogrom, and Hassan watches his mother burn to death in her automobile. As a result, Papa moves the family first to London, then to a small town in the French mountains, where most of the story takes place. London is brief, though the family seems to have quite a bit of money, the result of selling the property in Mumbai to developers, a typical rags to rich story. Their departure from London, where Hassan learns about life, is abrupt, when the family learns that he has been sleeping with his cousin. She is sent back to Mumbai,recriminations ensue, and Papa decides to take them elsewhere, ending up in France. He buys a crumbling villa, across the street from a two star, prim, old school French hotel/restaurant called Le Saule Pleureur, run by the tyrannical, old school Madame Mallory. The conflict arises when the Haji's open Maison Mumbai across the street, a Bollywood type of restaurant, complete with Indian disco. As the two vie for the foodies, M. Mallory ends up rushing into the kitchen of Maison Mumbai, recognizes that Hassan 'has it,' the gift for cooking, and in anger, but accidently, knocks over a pot that burns Hassan, sending him to the hospital. This is the epiphany in her life, as she begins to realize her lack of humanity, tries to repair her relations with the Haji's and Hassan. Gradually, she recognizes Hassan's greatest, begs Papa, to let Hassan come and work for her, which he eventually does, learning all the techniques necessary to be a great chef. He eventually leaves her restaurant, moves to Paris, where because of her covert connections, he ends working for a great chef. He eventually opens his own restaurant, again with the help of M. Mallory, eventually receiving a three star as the book ends, a triumph in a sense, though filled with conflict, tragedy, racism, but also ultimately humanity and love. Not a page turner, but worth reading, especially if you enjoy food and being put in another culture for a few hundred pages.
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