The Hundred-Foot Journey

A Novel

By: Richard C. Morais

Narrated by: Neil Shah

“That skinny Indian teenager has that mysterious something that comes along once a generation. He is one of those rare chefs who is simply born. He is an artist.”

And so begins the rise of Hassan Haji, the unlikely gourmand who recounts his life’s journey in this charming audiobook. Lively and brimming with the colors, flavors, and scents of the kitchen, The Hundred-Foot Journey is a succulent treat about family, nationality, and the mysteries of good taste.

Born above his grandfather’s modest restaurant in Mumbai, Hassan first experienced life through intoxicating whiffs of spicy fish curry, trips to the local markets, and gourmet outings 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 café opposite an esteemed French restaurant - that of the famous chef Madame Mallory - and infuse the sleepy town with the spices of India, 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.

The Hundred-Foot Journey is about how the hundred-foot distance between a new Indian kitchen and a traditional French one can represent the gulf between different cultures and desires. A testament to the inevitability of destiny, this is a fable for the ages - charming, endearing, and a joy to listen to.

Richard C. Morais, author of The Hundred-Foot Journey, is a contributing editor at Barron’s in New York. An American raised in Switzerland, he was stationed in London for seventeen years, where he was Forbes’ European bureau chief.

©2008 2010 by Richard C. Morais (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Outstanding! A completely engaging human story heavily larded with the lushest, most high-test food porn since Zola. Easily the best novel ever set in the world of cooking—and absolutely thrilling from beginning to end. I wished it went on for another three hundred pages.”—Anthony Bourdain, New York Times bestselling author of Kitchen Confidential

“A gorgeous novel, vivid and intimate, tracing a journey from kitchen to kitchen, from culture to culture, with a perfect touch.”—Susan Orlean, New York Times bestselling author

“Richard C. Morais conjures a richly woven tapestry of exotic sights, smells, and tastes that transports the reader to a world of epicurean delights. This is a charming, deeply felt novel that questions, and ultimately celebrates, the twists and turns of an authentically lived life.”—Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author

Delicious!

Any additional comments?

A 'delicious' book. Well written and a joy for the senses. Themes addressed are loss, love, forgiveness, immigration, justice, economics, redemption, legacy, ambition, etc. It helps to read with an accent, Indian & French throughout. ;) Be prepared to book a seat at your favorite Indian and French restaurants during your read. Engaging characters. Can't wait for the film version.

I love food

Great story about a great cook.
Loved the East Indian accents and the flowery explanations of food and people. Great read

loved the movie more. that rarely happened

I really liked the first two thirds of the book. After that the book drags and seems to be a little whiny. the end seems to come out of no where. The movie was more entertaining for me and had a better ending.

Very enjoyable

This book is almost nothing like the movie, so don't be expecting that, as I was. It's less a feel good rom-com family movie and more a bittersweet tale of the life of a chef. Great if you enjoy food and have a sense of French cuisine. The narration is fantastic! I loved his accents and the different character voices. Wish it was twice a long!

Different From the Movie but Very Enjoyable

Warning: don’t listen when hungry as the food descriptions are very vivid. Enjoyed this more in-depth (than the movie) full book version. Recommended!

great start but led no where.

by the end of the book I stopped caring what happened to Hasan. the narration on the other habd was top notch.

A magical hundred foot journey

I absolutely do not want to watch the movie that this book was loosely based on because I have a feeling it doesn't even catch the essence, and how magically wonderful this book was. A story about a average person and his family growing up in India, and the journey that delivers them to France. It's also about grit and strength of a family, and their focus on their own path. At the same time it's also about the act of others caring and sharing their knowledge that can be passed on to help others as their own legacy. I'm just so in love with this book.

Beautiful view of culture and food

This book has so many lessons on so many levels. This book is about a family forced to leave India during the partition and them fleeing to France. While in France Hasan the son who This story is told through finds his passion and love of cooking. The rest of the story goes from there it's his journey and experiences along with the challenges he faces. This book is about loss,passion, heartbreak,racism and a beautiful depictions of the culture around food across the divide of country. This is an older book so I don't know if the writing or the times in which it was written caused some flaws in my opinion. The author through the character often depicts women as schemers and not in a very positive light except the ones in Hasans family who fit what the men in the family deem appropriate. I admit I could be bias and taking an American view to something I don't understand. I can only speak to how it felt for me and it wasn't enough to detract from the enjoyment but I felt it should be mentioned. I loved the insight to the racism on a mass level directed at immigrants. I think it causes a needed conversation. Overall I enjoyed this book parts made me sad but I truly left with the beauty Hasan saw in his world through passion of purpose and culture around food. Also I think it glimpses at life in a professional kitchen and at the trials of owning a restaurant from very different economic viewpoints. 5 stars but 9 out of 10. Definitely would recommend it's a good read.

outstanding in every way! a favorite!!!

the story and the narrator are exceptional! I was transported and long to visit France or at least a French restaurant! I have a new interest in cooking and a desire to experience more international cuisine.

Very entertaining!

This is a perfect story for listening while exercising. A great read for foodies and francophiles.
The narration is excellent and even the few mispronunciations of French words seem authentic.
A fun listen!