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There are many points in life when we cannot see what awaits us around the corner, and it is precisely at such times, when our path forward is unclear, that we must bravely keep our nerve, resolutely putting one foot before the other as we march blindly into the dark.
― Richard C. Morais, The Hundred-Foot Journey
It wasn’t until I traveled overseas that I understood the important interplay between food and culture. Travel has refined my palate and instilled within me an appreciation for good food and sense of culinary adventure. When I saw the trailer for DreamWorks’ latest film, The Hundred-Foot Journey, I was certain I would love it.
Inspired by Richard C. Morais’s novel of the same name, The Hundred-Foot Journey follows the story of the Kadam family, who find themselves forcibly uprooted from their home in native India after a series of riots results in the death of young Hassan Kadam’s (Manish Dayal) mother. Their family restaurant business is their “bread and butter,” and much of Hassan’s exquisite culinary skill was inherited from years of side-by-side cooking with his mother.
Unsettled and in search of a home to continue their family’s culinary traditions , the Kadam family find themselves in a small town in the South of France. When “Papa” happens upon a deserted open-air restaurant, he purchases the property to set up Maison Mumbai. What Papa doesn’t understand is that the space has housed many would-be restaurateurs unable to compete with Michelin Star French Restaurant Le Saule Pleureur, owned and headed up by the icy Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren). The irony of the two culinary competitors is the fact that they are located just 100 feet from each other.
As the story progresses, Papa and Madame Mallory find themselves in a territorial culinary battle. In the mix is a budding, but complicated romance between Hassan and Madame Mallory’s Sous-Chef Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon). When Madame Mallory becomes privy to Hassan’s intrinsic skill as a chef, she hires him to mentor and refine those skills.
What I love about The Hundred-Foot Journey is that food is showcased in a series of delectable scenes, while never taking away from the film’s core messages surrounding family, culture, and bridging ethnic differences through food. Shot on location in France, the film is visually appetizing and I challenge you not to crave an omelet after your cinematic “journey” through the South of France.
The Hundred-Foot Journey debuts in theaters this Friday, August 8th, 2014. And if you’re looking for some culinary inspiration, check out these 10 Recipes Inspired by The Hundred-Foot Journey and 6 Film-Inspired Comfort Foods.
Images: DreamWorks
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