The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais

Hassan Haji starts life in Mumbia, India.  His family runs a modest restaurant there.  When prejudice results in a family tragedy, the family moves to London, but the damp, cloudy city is not a good fit.  While on a family vacation in France, the family discovers the French region near the Alps and purchases a home there.  It is directly across from a gourmet French restaurant run by Madame Mallory.

Madame Mallory is the terror of the town.  She gets first choice at the farmers market and the butchers, and a meal in her restaurant is formal and follows specific rules.  She is appalled when the Haji family decides to open an informal, loud, spicy Indian restaurant across the street.  However, when she goes there and actually eats, she realizes that Hassan is that rare find, a natural chef.

She extends an offer to the Haji family to take Hassan in and train him.  He makes the hundred-foot journey over to her world, and his life journey is set.  Hassan learns all he can from Madame Mallory, then strikes out on his own in Paris. 

Richard Morais has written an entertaining tale that will delight foodies and those readers interested in family sagas.  The book is full of stories about food and all that goes into running a successful restaurant.  The food is lovingly described, and the reader feels full and satisfied after reading this volume.  This book is recommended for readers who enjoy food and reading about it.