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鴨川食堂 #2
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes, translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, is the second book in the bestselling, mouth-watering Japanese sleuthing series for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and follows on from The Kamogawa Food Detectives.
Tucked away down a Kyoto backstreet lies the extraordinary Kamogawa Diner. Running this unique establishment are a father-daughter duo who serve more than just mouth-watering feasts.
The pair have reinvented themselves as 'food detectives', offering a service that goes beyond traditional dining. Through their culinary sleuthing, they reconstruct beloved dishes from the memories of their customers, creating a connection to cherished moments from the past.
Among those who seek an appointment a one-hit wonder pop star, finally ready to leave Tokyo and give up on her singing career, wants to try the tempura that she ate to celebrate her only successful record and a budding Olympic swimmer who desires the bento lunch box that his estranged father used to make him. The Kamogawa Diner doesn't just serve meals – it revives lost recipes and rekindles forgotten memories. It's a doorway to the past through the miracle of delicious food.
Tucked away down a Kyoto backstreet lies the extraordinary Kamogawa Diner. Running this unique establishment are a father-daughter duo who serve more than just mouth-watering feasts.
The pair have reinvented themselves as 'food detectives', offering a service that goes beyond traditional dining. Through their culinary sleuthing, they reconstruct beloved dishes from the memories of their customers, creating a connection to cherished moments from the past.
Among those who seek an appointment a one-hit wonder pop star, finally ready to leave Tokyo and give up on her singing career, wants to try the tempura that she ate to celebrate her only successful record and a budding Olympic swimmer who desires the bento lunch box that his estranged father used to make him. The Kamogawa Diner doesn't just serve meals – it revives lost recipes and rekindles forgotten memories. It's a doorway to the past through the miracle of delicious food.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2014
1007 people are currently reading
24902 people want to read
About the author
Hisashi Kashiwai
77 books539 followersHisashi Kashiwai was born in 1952 and was raised in Kyoto. He graduated from Osaka Dental University. After graduating, he returned to Kyoto and worked as a dentist. He has written extensively about his native city and has collaborated in TV programs and magazines.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,983 reviews
November 8, 2024
After reading the first book of Kamogawa Food Detectives (#1), the second book continues the story by showing how each recipe impacts not just the person who remembers it, but also those around them.
The book consists of six beautiful stories. 😍
It highlights how sharing memories can heal, with a deeper focus on love, loss, and understanding.
It is a warm story about memories and tastes, where food brings back our old feelings and connections.
It shows how dishes can tell stories about people.
A beautifully written and reflective book that I really enjoyed reading.
The book consists of six beautiful stories. 😍
It highlights how sharing memories can heal, with a deeper focus on love, loss, and understanding.
It is a warm story about memories and tastes, where food brings back our old feelings and connections.
It shows how dishes can tell stories about people.
A beautifully written and reflective book that I really enjoyed reading.
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January 28, 2025actual rating: 3.5 stars
October 13, 2024
“Midnight Diner meets cozy anime mystery” is the best way I can describe the gentle, introspective mood of this book. Each visitor who drops in to eat at this restaurant is first rewarded with a warm, comforting meal and a conversation; what makes the Kamagowa Diner special is that each person who visits is also in search of a special dish. They come to ask Chef Nagare and his daughter to recreate food they can only describe from their memory, often in the most obscure terms.
You can practically feel the steam rising from a bowl of broth and find yourself savoring the delicate crunch of tempura dipped into its sauce. The dishes are not fancy, but they are made with exquisite care, and they stir a poignant desire to experience the same sense of discovery that the restaurant patrons do. At the heart of this story is the notion of food as art, as culture, as sustenance, but also of food as history, as memory, and as human connection. The patrons of this restaurant are in search of more than a nostalgic meal, they are seeking guidance, navigating broken bonds, and wistfully trying to recapture the last time they felt truly cared for.
The anecdotes are short and slight, the detective work is simple and nearly fable-like. But I left this diner feeling satisfied, in the same way I feel the rush of joy and pleasure when I eat at a restaurant I’m surprised by: not only does the food stimulate all my senses, but so do the dining experience and the companionship.
3.5 stars
A very nice addition to the many food-centered books and cookbooks I've been reading lately, as well as Ina Garten's memoir.
Audio Notes: So very lovely on audio, with thoughtfully precise narration from Hanako Footman. I especially loved hearing her charming meow as the diner’s cat at the end of each chapter. <3
You can practically feel the steam rising from a bowl of broth and find yourself savoring the delicate crunch of tempura dipped into its sauce. The dishes are not fancy, but they are made with exquisite care, and they stir a poignant desire to experience the same sense of discovery that the restaurant patrons do. At the heart of this story is the notion of food as art, as culture, as sustenance, but also of food as history, as memory, and as human connection. The patrons of this restaurant are in search of more than a nostalgic meal, they are seeking guidance, navigating broken bonds, and wistfully trying to recapture the last time they felt truly cared for.
The anecdotes are short and slight, the detective work is simple and nearly fable-like. But I left this diner feeling satisfied, in the same way I feel the rush of joy and pleasure when I eat at a restaurant I’m surprised by: not only does the food stimulate all my senses, but so do the dining experience and the companionship.
3.5 stars
A very nice addition to the many food-centered books and cookbooks I've been reading lately, as well as Ina Garten's memoir.
Audio Notes: So very lovely on audio, with thoughtfully precise narration from Hanako Footman. I especially loved hearing her charming meow as the diner’s cat at the end of each chapter. <3
November 22, 2024
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is the second installment of the Food Detectives series. It exceeded my expectations I liked this one even more than the first. I found it equally endearing and enchanting.
I love stories that pack an emotional punch and this one did just that. Many of the stories involve grieving loved ones. I absolutely love the banter between Nagare (a widower) and his daughter, Koishi. I also love how they talk to and include Nagare’s wife/Koishi’s mother in their conversations and investigations.
Christmas Cake pulled at my heartstrings and was my favorite in the collection. I cannot recommend the audio book enough. Absolutely perfect narration. My trips to my local Japanese restaurants have greatly increased during my listening experience. Eating the food discusses in the stories always adds to the experience.
I love stories that pack an emotional punch and this one did just that. Many of the stories involve grieving loved ones. I absolutely love the banter between Nagare (a widower) and his daughter, Koishi. I also love how they talk to and include Nagare’s wife/Koishi’s mother in their conversations and investigations.
Christmas Cake pulled at my heartstrings and was my favorite in the collection. I cannot recommend the audio book enough. Absolutely perfect narration. My trips to my local Japanese restaurants have greatly increased during my listening experience. Eating the food discusses in the stories always adds to the experience.
October 5, 2024
This is the second instalment in Hisashi Kashiwai’s Kamogawa Food Detectives series, although I think it’d work just as well as a standalone piece. It’s designed to be comfort reading so relatively undemanding but it’s atmospheric and carefully-crafted - probably why the series is so incredibly popular in Japan. As before the structure’s episodic – it started out as a serial – so easy to dip in and out of. It’s set in a small, unassuming restaurant tucked away in a peaceful Kyoto street, inspired by a diner the author once knew close to the celebrated Higashi Hongan-ji temple. The author’s version’s run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare. They serve variations on local cuisine but they also offer a unique service. They can trace and recreate dishes from people’s past: the specific textures, flavours, and aromas their clients long to experience just one more time. These might stem from recipes harking back to childhood or simply a favourite item from the menu of a long-vanished café or food stall.
There are six interconnecting sections here, each centred on a different client. But what these visitors seek isn’t food as fuel or self-indulgence. Their cravings are as much entangled with memory, nostalgia and emotion: a precise combinations of herbs and vegetables they ate as children; a cake that might provide much needed closure for a grieving couple; a simple dish for a mother desperate to reconnect with her son; a lunchtime bento box that might help a son reconcile with his father. Hisashi Kashiwai describes each dish in tantalising detail. He often prepares them himself before he writes about them and carries out extensive research on sourcing their rarer ingredients. He adds in an array of material on links between particular foods and Japanese mythology, on local delicacies and/or traditions. The result’s a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in exploring Japanese culture. I liked the first book in the series but thought this was even better. It’s more assured, more fluid. I really enjoyed it. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Mantle for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
There are six interconnecting sections here, each centred on a different client. But what these visitors seek isn’t food as fuel or self-indulgence. Their cravings are as much entangled with memory, nostalgia and emotion: a precise combinations of herbs and vegetables they ate as children; a cake that might provide much needed closure for a grieving couple; a simple dish for a mother desperate to reconnect with her son; a lunchtime bento box that might help a son reconcile with his father. Hisashi Kashiwai describes each dish in tantalising detail. He often prepares them himself before he writes about them and carries out extensive research on sourcing their rarer ingredients. He adds in an array of material on links between particular foods and Japanese mythology, on local delicacies and/or traditions. The result’s a treasure trove of information for anyone interested in exploring Japanese culture. I liked the first book in the series but thought this was even better. It’s more assured, more fluid. I really enjoyed it. Translated by Jesse Kirkwood.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher Mantle for an ARC
Rating: 3.5
July 4, 2024
Miła lektura, a w samym schemacie tych historii można odnaleźć wiele spokoju i komfortu.
June 23, 2024
Volvemos a la peculiar Taberna Kamogawa de Nagare y Koishi (padre e hija) en Kioto.
En ésta ocasión conoceremos la historia de seis nuevos comensales en busca de sabores que les transportan a momentos muy especiales de sus vidas, cargados todos ellos de mucha emotividad y nostalgia.
Ésta segunda parte vuelve a ser un libro de lectura rápida y emocional dentro de un mundo de investigación culinaria totalmente exquisito. La descripción tanto de la comida como de los paisajes e historias me han transportado a cada rincón, emoción y sabor, incluso he abrazado a Hirune en la Taberna Kamogawa de lo bien descrito y cuidado que está cada detalle! 🐈⬛
En ésta ocasión conoceremos la historia de seis nuevos comensales en busca de sabores que les transportan a momentos muy especiales de sus vidas, cargados todos ellos de mucha emotividad y nostalgia.
Ésta segunda parte vuelve a ser un libro de lectura rápida y emocional dentro de un mundo de investigación culinaria totalmente exquisito. La descripción tanto de la comida como de los paisajes e historias me han transportado a cada rincón, emoción y sabor, incluso he abrazado a Hirune en la Taberna Kamogawa de lo bien descrito y cuidado que está cada detalle! 🐈⬛
November 1, 2023
Un très beau roman au style atypique, qui fait voyager au travers de rencontres et de souvenirs de personnages tous différents les uns des autres. Par le biais de la cuisine, on aborde plein de sujets avec beaucoup de douceur et c'est un roman qui fait du bien, même si le côté un peu décousu de son style d'écriture et de sa construction peut surprendre !
July 8, 2025
¿Puede una comida transportarte a los rincones más profundos de tus recuerdos? La taberna Kamogawa es la prueba de que eso es posible, a través de las historias conmovedoras que este libro nos presenta.
Es una lectura ligera, fácil de leer, ambientada en Japón y recomendable si quieres una "lectura detox" y te gusta la gastronomía.
Es una lectura ligera, fácil de leer, ambientada en Japón y recomendable si quieres una "lectura detox" y te gusta la gastronomía.
January 23, 2025
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is a solid, though not standout, read. The concept is intriguing—a mysterious restaurant that serves forgotten, once-beloved dishes—but the execution doesn't quite meet the potential.
The main character is certainly likeable enough, and their journey of self-discovery and culinary adventures keeps you engaged. However, there are moments where their decision-making feels a bit contrived, and some of the supporting characters could have used a bit more depth and development.
The descriptions of the dishes and the restaurant settings are vivid and mouth-watering, making it a delightful read for food lovers. But at times, the plot became slow, and the emotional arc didn't fully resonate.
In short, "The Restaurant of Lost Recipes" is an enjoyable read with a unique concept, but it falls a bit short in execution. It's worth a try, especially if you love all things culinary, but don't expect it to blow you away."
The main character is certainly likeable enough, and their journey of self-discovery and culinary adventures keeps you engaged. However, there are moments where their decision-making feels a bit contrived, and some of the supporting characters could have used a bit more depth and development.
The descriptions of the dishes and the restaurant settings are vivid and mouth-watering, making it a delightful read for food lovers. But at times, the plot became slow, and the emotional arc didn't fully resonate.
In short, "The Restaurant of Lost Recipes" is an enjoyable read with a unique concept, but it falls a bit short in execution. It's worth a try, especially if you love all things culinary, but don't expect it to blow you away."
April 23, 2025
" You appreciate things differently when you're older, don't you? Food is never just about flavor. It's something that we feel ---- and in different ways, depending on where you are in life."
This book contains 6 different stories about how food and memories are intertwined. There's a special restaurant in Japan where you can go to order a special meal, one that means something special to you. The chef gives the person about 2 weeks, so he can go get everything he needs to create your meal, and hopefully recreate the your special memory!! Sounds fun!!
I really enjoyed this one. I didn't read the first book but I wasn't lost in this one. I'm sure that they can be read as standalones and be equally enjoyable! The stories are very moving. If you like Japanese food, I can guarantee that your mouths will be watering reading this book 📖!!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 🥢👩🍳
This book contains 6 different stories about how food and memories are intertwined. There's a special restaurant in Japan where you can go to order a special meal, one that means something special to you. The chef gives the person about 2 weeks, so he can go get everything he needs to create your meal, and hopefully recreate the your special memory!! Sounds fun!!
I really enjoyed this one. I didn't read the first book but I wasn't lost in this one. I'm sure that they can be read as standalones and be equally enjoyable! The stories are very moving. If you like Japanese food, I can guarantee that your mouths will be watering reading this book 📖!!!
Enjoy and Happy Reading 🥢👩🍳
September 11, 2024
Thank you to Macmillan for sending me a proof of this book.
Review to come soon, currently filming a vlog for multiple ARC's so will update on release day.
Review to come soon, currently filming a vlog for multiple ARC's so will update on release day.
August 5, 2024
Segunda parte de las historias de la taberna Kamogawa, y si habéis leído el primero este es más de lo mismo. Varias historias en las que la gastronomía japonesa es un personaje más, donde un antiguo policía convertido en cocinero y acompañado por su hija ayudan a clientes que les encargan la búsqueda de un plato especial anclado en sus recuerdos, que les devuelva sensaciones olvidadas.
Un libro cortito que se lee enseguida, una lectura ligera para intercalar entre otras más densas. No le he puesto más estrellas porque este segundo libro ya ha perdido un poco para mi la originalidad del primero, y porque se me ha hecho demasiado reiterativo que en todas las historias repitiera exactamente la misma estructura, explicando a los clientes las mismas cosas, incluso estos tuvieran todos el mismo comportamiento con el gato.
Un libro cortito que se lee enseguida, una lectura ligera para intercalar entre otras más densas. No le he puesto más estrellas porque este segundo libro ya ha perdido un poco para mi la originalidad del primero, y porque se me ha hecho demasiado reiterativo que en todas las historias repitiera exactamente la misma estructura, explicando a los clientes las mismas cosas, incluso estos tuvieran todos el mismo comportamiento con el gato.
December 26, 2024
No es el gran libro, tampoco tiene una trama tan memorable.
Lo que sí es:
Una anécdota entrañable, hay un motivo que se intuye para una labor tan emotiva como ser un detective culinario que investiga los componentes de un plato que se encuentra en la memoria del cliente.
Aunque los casos son repetitivos en estructura, esto carece un poco de importancia porque llega a ser reconfortante saber el procedimiento.
Para los que nos gusta la cocina, probar sabores nuevos o que somos capaces de viajar a un lugar solo por probar la cocina regional es un deleite leer sobre una descripción tan detallada y sensible de cada plato, aún cuando haya ingredientes desconocidos.
Un libro sencillo pero amigable al paladar.
Lo que sí es:
Una anécdota entrañable, hay un motivo que se intuye para una labor tan emotiva como ser un detective culinario que investiga los componentes de un plato que se encuentra en la memoria del cliente.
Aunque los casos son repetitivos en estructura, esto carece un poco de importancia porque llega a ser reconfortante saber el procedimiento.
Para los que nos gusta la cocina, probar sabores nuevos o que somos capaces de viajar a un lugar solo por probar la cocina regional es un deleite leer sobre una descripción tan detallada y sensible de cada plato, aún cuando haya ingredientes desconocidos.
Un libro sencillo pero amigable al paladar.
September 18, 2024
Well, this was pretty much same thing as the first book- collection of stories, connected by yummy food and some personal stories. And this was it. And I did like it. Yes, it gets repetitive very soon but it's the name of the game and if you're into stuff like this you will enjoy it.
March 17, 2025
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is the delicious second book of the translated into English Japanese series which revolves around a father and daughter (and their cat Drowsy) who own a diner called The Kamogawa Diner but are also known to be food detectives for people who have somehow learned about them and come to them to try and recapture a food dish with a memory, sometimes good and sometimes bad attached. It is up to Chef Nagare and his daughter Koishi to work their magic and try to discover and then cook the dish which their clients sometimes desperately need to continue on their journey or make peace with their past.
The stories are lovely and beautiful and are filled with delicious delicacies and mysteries. Nagare will scour the earth to help anyone who needs his special service and Koishi will take care of all the paperwork. And of course, Drowsy their beloved cat will always make their guests feel better.
Some of the stories in this book include Fried Rice in which a model who is engaged is desperately searching for a Fried Rice she remembers from years ago so she can present it to her fiancé and be proud.
Another is an Olympic Swimmer who is looking for the special Beto Box his father who he is estranged from use to make for him daily.
The most poignant story to me was Christmas Cake in which a married couple comes to the diner to look for a particular cake their late son used to love, but they never tasted as it was given as an offering at the time of his death and neither wanted to try it. This story shows the love of the parents for their lost son, but it also shows the love of the young son to his parents as past and present collide.
Every story has a beginning, middle, and moving ending the last few sentences always an homage to Nagare and Koishi's late wife and mother.
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is a feel good, gloriously happy read with mouthwatering delicacies and mysteries to be solved for those seeking answers through food.
Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam'sSons #HisashiKashiwai #TheRestaurantofLostRecipes for the advanced copy.
The stories are lovely and beautiful and are filled with delicious delicacies and mysteries. Nagare will scour the earth to help anyone who needs his special service and Koishi will take care of all the paperwork. And of course, Drowsy their beloved cat will always make their guests feel better.
Some of the stories in this book include Fried Rice in which a model who is engaged is desperately searching for a Fried Rice she remembers from years ago so she can present it to her fiancé and be proud.
Another is an Olympic Swimmer who is looking for the special Beto Box his father who he is estranged from use to make for him daily.
The most poignant story to me was Christmas Cake in which a married couple comes to the diner to look for a particular cake their late son used to love, but they never tasted as it was given as an offering at the time of his death and neither wanted to try it. This story shows the love of the parents for their lost son, but it also shows the love of the young son to his parents as past and present collide.
Every story has a beginning, middle, and moving ending the last few sentences always an homage to Nagare and Koishi's late wife and mother.
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes is a feel good, gloriously happy read with mouthwatering delicacies and mysteries to be solved for those seeking answers through food.
Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam'sSons #HisashiKashiwai #TheRestaurantofLostRecipes for the advanced copy.
December 7, 2024
The Restaurant Of Lost Recipes is the second book in the Kamogawa Food Detectives series by Japanese dentist and author, Hisashi Kashiwai. It is translated from Japanese by award-winning translator, Jesse Kirkwood. The audio version is narrated by Hanako Footman. Six new clients visit Kyoto’s Kamogawa Diner to request the help of the food detectives.
The format of each story follows the same lines: from a one line ad in Gourmet Monthly (“Kamagawa Diner and Detective Agency: We Find Your Food”) the client searches out the diner, a little surprised at how unimpressive it looks; former police detective, Nagare Kamogawa suggests he serve them a meal while they’re there, something that’s always incredibly delicious; his daughter Koishi , who is in charge of the food detective agency, takes down the information about the recipe they are after, and the story behind it.
The client returns after two weeks to find that Nagare has got it exactly right, and he explains how he tracked it down; the client usually also learns something interesting, surprising and/or moving about the original cook and/or the intended recipient, and perhaps about themselves as well; the client is invited to pay into an account what they feel their service and meals deserve.
Olympic swimmer Kyosuko Kitano wants the Nori Ben his father used to make for him after his parents split up. His father’s gambling addiction broke up the family, and Kyosuko hasn’t seen him for five years. Koishi wonders if her father will be disappointed by such a simple request, but Nagare tells her “The simplest dishes are always the hardest to get right.” The result, and the story behind it, has Kyosuko revising his choice of stroke for his swim, and considering making contact with his father.
At almost forty, and recently widowed, food writer Kana Takeda has never been to Kyoto but wants to reproduce a dish for her six-year-old son, Yusuke, something he lovingly described in his nursery school album, but she has never made. She suspects it was made by his grandfather, but doesn’t see her parents, who operate the Takeda Diner in Hirosaki. All is information that helps Nagare hunt down the recipe and ingredients. Her purpose seems a little underhand, but she gets a surprise, and learns a lesson: “Kids are happy eating anything, as long as they can tell it was made with love.”
Grieving parents Yoshie and Masayuki Sakamoto have come from their traditional Fushimi confectionery shop, Kogando, to find a Christmas Cake that the old lady at Cent Nuits cake shop brought to their son, Kakeru’s wake. Will it bring them closure? Will it help them to decide to whom they will pass on the 128-year-old confectionery tradition? Nagare doesn’t have a lot to go on, but still succeeds, and brings back a wonderful surprise as well. His advice about succession is sage: “What counts is passing on your art, in its every detail, to whoever picks up the baton.”
Top model, Hatsuko Shirusaki knows Koishi from school, but now she’s made a special trip to the Kamogawa Diner: she wants to be able to cook the fried rice her mother used to make for her new fiancé, the best way for him to know the real Hatsuko and understand her humble beginnings. But her mum died when she was ten. Nagare tells her “The tricky ones are always the most rewarding.”
Now the MD of a printing company, Katsuji Onodera was once a student in Kyoto where he spent every afternoon rehearsing with his drama club under a bridge. He believes that if he could once again taste the ramen from the long-gone yatai food stall nearby, he could decide how he feels about his son following an acting career instead of joining his company. Nagare understands: “You appreciate things differently when you’re older, don’t you? Food is never just about flavour. It’s something we feel – and in different ways, depending on where we are in life.”
When her first song was a hit, Keiko Fujikama’s manager took her for a meal at Tenfusa in Asakusa, and the ten-don she ate will always be the taste of success, a success she never repeated. Thirty years on, she wants to taste it just once more before she goes home to her ageing parents in Ishinomaki. When Nagare serves her exactly what she remembers, then a slight variation, he tells her “Nostalgia’s all well and good, but we shouldn’t be afraid to try something new.”
In each story, Drowsy the cat also makes an appearance, and Nagare and Koishi pay respect to Kikuko, Nagare’s late wife. Usually mention is made of their one-line ad in Gourmet Monthly, and sometimes, of the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Akane Daidoji. And even if the reader hasn’t a clue what all the foods are, the gorgeous descriptions of each dish are truly mouth-watering. Moving and wise, this is feel-good fiction at its best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio
The format of each story follows the same lines: from a one line ad in Gourmet Monthly (“Kamagawa Diner and Detective Agency: We Find Your Food”) the client searches out the diner, a little surprised at how unimpressive it looks; former police detective, Nagare Kamogawa suggests he serve them a meal while they’re there, something that’s always incredibly delicious; his daughter Koishi , who is in charge of the food detective agency, takes down the information about the recipe they are after, and the story behind it.
The client returns after two weeks to find that Nagare has got it exactly right, and he explains how he tracked it down; the client usually also learns something interesting, surprising and/or moving about the original cook and/or the intended recipient, and perhaps about themselves as well; the client is invited to pay into an account what they feel their service and meals deserve.
Olympic swimmer Kyosuko Kitano wants the Nori Ben his father used to make for him after his parents split up. His father’s gambling addiction broke up the family, and Kyosuko hasn’t seen him for five years. Koishi wonders if her father will be disappointed by such a simple request, but Nagare tells her “The simplest dishes are always the hardest to get right.” The result, and the story behind it, has Kyosuko revising his choice of stroke for his swim, and considering making contact with his father.
At almost forty, and recently widowed, food writer Kana Takeda has never been to Kyoto but wants to reproduce a dish for her six-year-old son, Yusuke, something he lovingly described in his nursery school album, but she has never made. She suspects it was made by his grandfather, but doesn’t see her parents, who operate the Takeda Diner in Hirosaki. All is information that helps Nagare hunt down the recipe and ingredients. Her purpose seems a little underhand, but she gets a surprise, and learns a lesson: “Kids are happy eating anything, as long as they can tell it was made with love.”
Grieving parents Yoshie and Masayuki Sakamoto have come from their traditional Fushimi confectionery shop, Kogando, to find a Christmas Cake that the old lady at Cent Nuits cake shop brought to their son, Kakeru’s wake. Will it bring them closure? Will it help them to decide to whom they will pass on the 128-year-old confectionery tradition? Nagare doesn’t have a lot to go on, but still succeeds, and brings back a wonderful surprise as well. His advice about succession is sage: “What counts is passing on your art, in its every detail, to whoever picks up the baton.”
Top model, Hatsuko Shirusaki knows Koishi from school, but now she’s made a special trip to the Kamogawa Diner: she wants to be able to cook the fried rice her mother used to make for her new fiancé, the best way for him to know the real Hatsuko and understand her humble beginnings. But her mum died when she was ten. Nagare tells her “The tricky ones are always the most rewarding.”
Now the MD of a printing company, Katsuji Onodera was once a student in Kyoto where he spent every afternoon rehearsing with his drama club under a bridge. He believes that if he could once again taste the ramen from the long-gone yatai food stall nearby, he could decide how he feels about his son following an acting career instead of joining his company. Nagare understands: “You appreciate things differently when you’re older, don’t you? Food is never just about flavour. It’s something we feel – and in different ways, depending on where we are in life.”
When her first song was a hit, Keiko Fujikama’s manager took her for a meal at Tenfusa in Asakusa, and the ten-don she ate will always be the taste of success, a success she never repeated. Thirty years on, she wants to taste it just once more before she goes home to her ageing parents in Ishinomaki. When Nagare serves her exactly what she remembers, then a slight variation, he tells her “Nostalgia’s all well and good, but we shouldn’t be afraid to try something new.”
In each story, Drowsy the cat also makes an appearance, and Nagare and Koishi pay respect to Kikuko, Nagare’s late wife. Usually mention is made of their one-line ad in Gourmet Monthly, and sometimes, of the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Akane Daidoji. And even if the reader hasn’t a clue what all the foods are, the gorgeous descriptions of each dish are truly mouth-watering. Moving and wise, this is feel-good fiction at its best.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio
August 3, 2024
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
There is something incredibly cozy and wonderful about the Kamogawa Food Detectives series, of which this is the second book. I've never been to Japan, I have no idea what many of the foods that are mentioned are or what makes them regionally distinct. Even so, the vibe of this book is delightful and immersing. I don't have to grasp the details to hunger for the goodness that is described--not just the food but the kindness of people.
This book, like the previous one, is essentially a sequence of short stories, each of the same formula. Someone seeks out the restaurant run by the Kamogawa father and daughter. They request the detective services and are served a delicious meal. They are then interviewed about the specific food that they are seeking to be recreated; in this book, that includes such scenarios as a mother and father wanting a recreation of the western-style Christmas cake their slain child loved, and a one-hit music star wanting to eat the tempura dish that she once thought symbolized her ascendancy to the top, in the eyes of the industry and her parents. The person then returns two weeks earlier to eat the heavily-researched dish, working through deep emotions in the process. They then pay whatever they want for the services rendered.
That's it. Every time. And it's wonderful. I hope more books are translated in this series, because I will keep reading them.
There is something incredibly cozy and wonderful about the Kamogawa Food Detectives series, of which this is the second book. I've never been to Japan, I have no idea what many of the foods that are mentioned are or what makes them regionally distinct. Even so, the vibe of this book is delightful and immersing. I don't have to grasp the details to hunger for the goodness that is described--not just the food but the kindness of people.
This book, like the previous one, is essentially a sequence of short stories, each of the same formula. Someone seeks out the restaurant run by the Kamogawa father and daughter. They request the detective services and are served a delicious meal. They are then interviewed about the specific food that they are seeking to be recreated; in this book, that includes such scenarios as a mother and father wanting a recreation of the western-style Christmas cake their slain child loved, and a one-hit music star wanting to eat the tempura dish that she once thought symbolized her ascendancy to the top, in the eyes of the industry and her parents. The person then returns two weeks earlier to eat the heavily-researched dish, working through deep emotions in the process. They then pay whatever they want for the services rendered.
That's it. Every time. And it's wonderful. I hope more books are translated in this series, because I will keep reading them.
September 13, 2024
Tbh i didn't read the title of this book before reading it cause i thought it is still the same as the previous book. But after reading the first chapter, and lookin for the title, now it makes sense. It is still comforting and yet still repetitive. I don't think this book excite me that much cause somehow in the middle of the book, i felt bored. It also did not give me enough information about food to make me drooling. So this book is out of my category of the good book, so sorry. BUT, if you're lookin for something light to read and short chapter included. This is it! give it a try and do not expect too much :)
October 28, 2024
I received a review copy of this book from Pan Macmillan via NetGalley for which my thanks.
Somewhere in the lanes of Kyoto, near the Kamo river, in a nondescript building and with no signage, confusing to locate except by the most determined customer (though not as much so as the Clinic for the Soul in We’ll Prescribe You a Cat) is the Kamogawa Diner. Run by Nagare Kamogawa and his daughter Koishi, this is of course a diner serving scrumptious food, but more than that one that also offers a detective service—recreating recipes or more specifically food memories that clients only have the briefest recollections of, vague ideas of taste, colour or even an ingredient but all the same tremendously special because of the people or stories attached to them.
The second of this series of ‘feel-good’ Japanese fiction (which is already into its 11th volume) translated into English by Jesse Kirkwood, this, like its predecessor and most other series of this kind, is episodic, comprised of six small sections of two chapters each, telling the story of one client and the outcome of Nagare and Koishi’s search—mostly the former since Koishi is merely in charge of interviewing clients while it is Nagare (formerly a policeman but now a chef) who traces down and recreates the recipes.
In the six stories in this collection, we see clients in search of nori ben (seaweed and rice), hamburger steak, fried rice, Christmas cake, ramen, and tendon (tempura rice bowl). But even the seemingly simple recipes like the nori ben and fried rice are far from it, for the first prepared by a single father as school lunch for his little boy tasted different than any others the boy (now a young man) has sampled since and the fried rice, cooked and left by a working mother for her daughter when she returned from school, is described as having been ‘pink’, unlike any fried rice usually seen. Hamburger steak might likewise be a common recipe too, but the taste the client is looking for is one made by a specific person and in a specific place, things being the same with the street side ramen and ten-don eaten by its seeker at a celebratory meal. Japanese Christmas Cake is distinctive to us readers perhaps—a sponge cake layered with whipped cream and strawberries—but each bakery has their way of preparing it!
The stories associated with each dish are at times of estrangement or loss or in others simply of so much time having passed that all that remains of the dish is the memory (sometimes just a case of the place cooking the dish no longer being in existence). Among the clients at Kamogawa this time are some prominent figures, an Olympic hopeful, a successful model (who happens to be an old friend of Koishi) as well as an idol who is somewhat of a one-hit wonder. We also have a businessman pondering over the future of his company and his son’s dreams as also a couple who own a traditional confectionary store (selling Ohagi, among others) dithering over a decision related to the future of their business. This time in one story was also the most unpleasant of the clients encountered so far, a food critic looking for a recipe simply to prove the superiority of the tastes she thinks count over more simple foods. I was glad to see her somewhat put in her place.
In tracing out these recipes and the stories connected with them, which play as much a role in recreating that memory as the food itself, Nagare also ends up helping clients reconsider their situations and stories with new eyes, as a result at times also mending fences or strengthening relationships. The outcome may be simpler in some cases, but in many it is more than just nostalgia or the food memory, also helping change the client’s life in small (even not so small) ways.
It is customary in these stories that each client who enters the doors of the Kamogawa Diner is treated to a set meal. In this book, I felt, these meals seemed far more elaborate than those in the first with dish after dish of seasonal delicacies served by Nagare to each client. The Olympic hopeful in the first story, for instance, finds himself served deep fried hamo eel with sour plum and perilla; deep fried Manganji peppers with Worcester sauce (some western fusion there), miso simmered mackerel with Mygoya ginger dressing, roast beef with wasabi infused soy, teriyaki style duck meatballs with quail eggyolk, chilled tofu, and deep fried Kamo aubergine—all this with pork miso soup and rice. I skipped some of the sauces and toppings but I’m sure you get the drift. I love how these meals reflect both the seasons and the care taken in choosing ingredients and pairings. On the clients’ return are awaiting them the recipes they seek and the stories they themselves mightn’t know all of, seeing them return satisfied in more than one way.
While perhaps obligatory, Drowsy the cat is very much present in this book too, mostly just appearing outside the diner as Nagare won’t permit him inside with most of the diner’s visitors taking to him. I was pleased to see though that he is on the covers of the Japanese editions too and not just on those of the translations!
Nagare and Koishi’s lives seem to be going on the same as usual with the work at the diner and memories of Koishi’s mother. But there are hints of a possible romance in Koishi’s life so one will have to stay tuned to see how that develops (this thread is off screen so we don’t meet the love interest).
This second collection too is heartwarming and gentle, so overflowing with food as to be certain to make the reader hungry, but most of all leaving one putting the book down feeling pleased and satisfied.
4.5 stars
Somewhere in the lanes of Kyoto, near the Kamo river, in a nondescript building and with no signage, confusing to locate except by the most determined customer (though not as much so as the Clinic for the Soul in We’ll Prescribe You a Cat) is the Kamogawa Diner. Run by Nagare Kamogawa and his daughter Koishi, this is of course a diner serving scrumptious food, but more than that one that also offers a detective service—recreating recipes or more specifically food memories that clients only have the briefest recollections of, vague ideas of taste, colour or even an ingredient but all the same tremendously special because of the people or stories attached to them.
The second of this series of ‘feel-good’ Japanese fiction (which is already into its 11th volume) translated into English by Jesse Kirkwood, this, like its predecessor and most other series of this kind, is episodic, comprised of six small sections of two chapters each, telling the story of one client and the outcome of Nagare and Koishi’s search—mostly the former since Koishi is merely in charge of interviewing clients while it is Nagare (formerly a policeman but now a chef) who traces down and recreates the recipes.
In the six stories in this collection, we see clients in search of nori ben (seaweed and rice), hamburger steak, fried rice, Christmas cake, ramen, and tendon (tempura rice bowl). But even the seemingly simple recipes like the nori ben and fried rice are far from it, for the first prepared by a single father as school lunch for his little boy tasted different than any others the boy (now a young man) has sampled since and the fried rice, cooked and left by a working mother for her daughter when she returned from school, is described as having been ‘pink’, unlike any fried rice usually seen. Hamburger steak might likewise be a common recipe too, but the taste the client is looking for is one made by a specific person and in a specific place, things being the same with the street side ramen and ten-don eaten by its seeker at a celebratory meal. Japanese Christmas Cake is distinctive to us readers perhaps—a sponge cake layered with whipped cream and strawberries—but each bakery has their way of preparing it!
The stories associated with each dish are at times of estrangement or loss or in others simply of so much time having passed that all that remains of the dish is the memory (sometimes just a case of the place cooking the dish no longer being in existence). Among the clients at Kamogawa this time are some prominent figures, an Olympic hopeful, a successful model (who happens to be an old friend of Koishi) as well as an idol who is somewhat of a one-hit wonder. We also have a businessman pondering over the future of his company and his son’s dreams as also a couple who own a traditional confectionary store (selling Ohagi, among others) dithering over a decision related to the future of their business. This time in one story was also the most unpleasant of the clients encountered so far, a food critic looking for a recipe simply to prove the superiority of the tastes she thinks count over more simple foods. I was glad to see her somewhat put in her place.
In tracing out these recipes and the stories connected with them, which play as much a role in recreating that memory as the food itself, Nagare also ends up helping clients reconsider their situations and stories with new eyes, as a result at times also mending fences or strengthening relationships. The outcome may be simpler in some cases, but in many it is more than just nostalgia or the food memory, also helping change the client’s life in small (even not so small) ways.
It is customary in these stories that each client who enters the doors of the Kamogawa Diner is treated to a set meal. In this book, I felt, these meals seemed far more elaborate than those in the first with dish after dish of seasonal delicacies served by Nagare to each client. The Olympic hopeful in the first story, for instance, finds himself served deep fried hamo eel with sour plum and perilla; deep fried Manganji peppers with Worcester sauce (some western fusion there), miso simmered mackerel with Mygoya ginger dressing, roast beef with wasabi infused soy, teriyaki style duck meatballs with quail eggyolk, chilled tofu, and deep fried Kamo aubergine—all this with pork miso soup and rice. I skipped some of the sauces and toppings but I’m sure you get the drift. I love how these meals reflect both the seasons and the care taken in choosing ingredients and pairings. On the clients’ return are awaiting them the recipes they seek and the stories they themselves mightn’t know all of, seeing them return satisfied in more than one way.
While perhaps obligatory, Drowsy the cat is very much present in this book too, mostly just appearing outside the diner as Nagare won’t permit him inside with most of the diner’s visitors taking to him. I was pleased to see though that he is on the covers of the Japanese editions too and not just on those of the translations!
Nagare and Koishi’s lives seem to be going on the same as usual with the work at the diner and memories of Koishi’s mother. But there are hints of a possible romance in Koishi’s life so one will have to stay tuned to see how that develops (this thread is off screen so we don’t meet the love interest).
This second collection too is heartwarming and gentle, so overflowing with food as to be certain to make the reader hungry, but most of all leaving one putting the book down feeling pleased and satisfied.
4.5 stars
April 21, 2025
Exactly what I thought it would be, lovely continuation of the first book (although I enjoyed book one a bit more).
April 19, 2025
More of the same, but like with good food, there is need for more all the time. Cozy, full of Japan (Kyoto but not just there!), and japanese food and how food ties to our memories and feelings. Not deep, but so satisfying, and if more gets published in translation I will be picking it up.
Audiobook again and so competent, pleasant, again.
Audiobook again and so competent, pleasant, again.
October 29, 2025
Yazarı, benzer sistematikle yazmış olduğu ‘Yemek Dedektifleri’ başlıklı kitabı ile tanımıştım. Fikri ve tarzını beğendiğimden, devam mahiyetinde olduğunu bilmeden bu kitabını da edinmiştim. Okumaya başlayınca, bir anlamda sevindim.
İlk kitabı gibi özenli hazırlanmış bir kitap. Aynı yorumu burada da yapacağım. İlginç bir proje. Farklı bir dedektiflik öyküsü kitabı. Japon mutfağından altı yemek ( Noriben (Yosunlu Pilav), Hambagu (Hamburger Köftesi), Kurisumasu (Noel Pastası), Yakimeşi (Sebzeli Tava Pilavı), Çukasoba(Çin Eriştesi), Tendon (Pilav Üstü Tempura)) tarifi ve bu yemeklerin geçmişte damaklarında tadı kalmış, ‘derinlerde bir yerlerde akıllarını meşgul eden bir yemeği’ bulmak isteyen altı müşterinin hikayesi. Ana karakterler çok sevimli, hikayeler sıcak, yemekler ve keşif bağlantıları başarılı. Yemek, sos, baharat, kase/tabak ve çay eşleşmesinin bu kadar detaylı ve estetik olduğunu bilmiyordum. Bu nedenle, benim açımdan, Japon yemek kültürünü tanımak için de iyi bir kaynak oldu. Bu açıdan çok beğendim.
İlk kitabı gibi özenli hazırlanmış bir kitap. Aynı yorumu burada da yapacağım. İlginç bir proje. Farklı bir dedektiflik öyküsü kitabı. Japon mutfağından altı yemek ( Noriben (Yosunlu Pilav), Hambagu (Hamburger Köftesi), Kurisumasu (Noel Pastası), Yakimeşi (Sebzeli Tava Pilavı), Çukasoba(Çin Eriştesi), Tendon (Pilav Üstü Tempura)) tarifi ve bu yemeklerin geçmişte damaklarında tadı kalmış, ‘derinlerde bir yerlerde akıllarını meşgul eden bir yemeği’ bulmak isteyen altı müşterinin hikayesi. Ana karakterler çok sevimli, hikayeler sıcak, yemekler ve keşif bağlantıları başarılı. Yemek, sos, baharat, kase/tabak ve çay eşleşmesinin bu kadar detaylı ve estetik olduğunu bilmiyordum. Bu nedenle, benim açımdan, Japon yemek kültürünü tanımak için de iyi bir kaynak oldu. Bu açıdan çok beğendim.
February 17, 2025
If warm hugs exist in book form, this series would be it.
September 25, 2024
I was so excited to read this but found myself so disappointed with it.
Full disclosure: the audiobook format negatively impacted my experience with this one and I found it difficult to experience the story behind its delivery. Even accounting for this, I found this lacked the charm, emotion, and depth that makes food writing and healing fiction work. The repetition across the book (and series!) is really pronounced, like a plug-and-play template format across sections and books!
Format Review 🎧
I didn’t enjoy this narrator. The delivery was dry: robotic enunciation, slooooow monotone reading, and emotionally flat. The narrator had a breathy delivery that really didn’t work for the story and they didn’t do much to differentiate the characters which didn’t help the monotony. Listening to it on 1.25-1.50x improved the monotony a bit but I found myself zoning out and bored while listening which hasn’t happened to me with an audiobook before. 😕 Audio: 1.5/5
Story Review 📖
The food writing in this was pretty solid but it’s buried in excessive repetition, stilted dialogue, and boring storytelling.
The clients in this were dull and weren’t well fleshed-out characters. Their problems weren’t interesting (they all felt the same!) and they didn’t have enough characterization to be interesting; most of them were obstinate and rude or meek and whiny. The daughter was just as whiny and rude as in the first book. She reads like a petulant, surly teen but is apparently pushing 40?! The dad was kind of creepy in this one with his comments about the daughter’s friend.
None of the relationships or humans felt authentic to me as a reader: I’m not sure if it was the delivery or the writing but despite some of the sad subject matter, I felt nothing when listening to the problems of the characters. The relationship between the proprietor and his daughter seemed even more awkward in this instalment than the first.
I continue to be disappointed that all the food detecting happens off-stage in this series. We have to sit through the repetitive sections where clients find the restaurant, eat, and outline their request. Then, the same kinda thing when they come to eat the meal. All the detecting is delivered through the dad's narrative, after the fact.
I found the repetition in the first book grating and this was just as bad: it retread a lot of ground that we covered in the first book (how the restaurant works, a lot of the dialogue, the comments directed at the cat) and then across sections in this book too. It made a lot of the text feel like filler to pad out the book. Since I read the first book, I’ve discovered other Japanese serial shorts that have strong character development and arcs that thread through the shorts and having that comparison makes this template style feel so bland.
Similar to the first book, the translation felt... clunky? I noticed a lot of British expressions and language in this book that I can’t imagine is present in the original text: barring proper nouns, it didn’t feel translated as much as made palatable for western audiences, which was disappointing. Through the language, this book felt more British than Japanese - this was compounded by a completely absent sense of place.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to review this as I was curious to see if there’d be any development since the first book. Unfortunately, it’s showing a lot of the same problems as I found in Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I need more character and story depth/development than this is offering me, so I think I’m going to leave this series behind. Story: 2.5/5
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this, Macmillan UK Audio.
Full disclosure: the audiobook format negatively impacted my experience with this one and I found it difficult to experience the story behind its delivery. Even accounting for this, I found this lacked the charm, emotion, and depth that makes food writing and healing fiction work. The repetition across the book (and series!) is really pronounced, like a plug-and-play template format across sections and books!
Format Review 🎧
I didn’t enjoy this narrator. The delivery was dry: robotic enunciation, slooooow monotone reading, and emotionally flat. The narrator had a breathy delivery that really didn’t work for the story and they didn’t do much to differentiate the characters which didn’t help the monotony. Listening to it on 1.25-1.50x improved the monotony a bit but I found myself zoning out and bored while listening which hasn’t happened to me with an audiobook before. 😕 Audio: 1.5/5
Story Review 📖
The food writing in this was pretty solid but it’s buried in excessive repetition, stilted dialogue, and boring storytelling.
The clients in this were dull and weren’t well fleshed-out characters. Their problems weren’t interesting (they all felt the same!) and they didn’t have enough characterization to be interesting; most of them were obstinate and rude or meek and whiny. The daughter was just as whiny and rude as in the first book. She reads like a petulant, surly teen but is apparently pushing 40?! The dad was kind of creepy in this one with his comments about the daughter’s friend.
None of the relationships or humans felt authentic to me as a reader: I’m not sure if it was the delivery or the writing but despite some of the sad subject matter, I felt nothing when listening to the problems of the characters. The relationship between the proprietor and his daughter seemed even more awkward in this instalment than the first.
I continue to be disappointed that all the food detecting happens off-stage in this series. We have to sit through the repetitive sections where clients find the restaurant, eat, and outline their request. Then, the same kinda thing when they come to eat the meal. All the detecting is delivered through the dad's narrative, after the fact.
I found the repetition in the first book grating and this was just as bad: it retread a lot of ground that we covered in the first book (how the restaurant works, a lot of the dialogue, the comments directed at the cat) and then across sections in this book too. It made a lot of the text feel like filler to pad out the book. Since I read the first book, I’ve discovered other Japanese serial shorts that have strong character development and arcs that thread through the shorts and having that comparison makes this template style feel so bland.
Similar to the first book, the translation felt... clunky? I noticed a lot of British expressions and language in this book that I can’t imagine is present in the original text: barring proper nouns, it didn’t feel translated as much as made palatable for western audiences, which was disappointing. Through the language, this book felt more British than Japanese - this was compounded by a completely absent sense of place.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to review this as I was curious to see if there’d be any development since the first book. Unfortunately, it’s showing a lot of the same problems as I found in Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I need more character and story depth/development than this is offering me, so I think I’m going to leave this series behind. Story: 2.5/5
I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this, Macmillan UK Audio.
February 9, 2025
Monotonous doesn't even begin to describe this book, IMO. The author has a formula and uses it over and over for all 6 short stories. This repetitive format gets boring real fast, along with the fact that the father describes his food offerings in great detail and there are usually multiple, and I mean multiple dishes.
This is a quick read since the reader pretty much has the format of each story memorized by the third story. Definitely not my cup of tea.
This is a quick read since the reader pretty much has the format of each story memorized by the third story. Definitely not my cup of tea.
January 25, 2025
Exactly the same as the first book. Loved it 😆🍜🐈
May 28, 2024
"Cuando uno dedica mucho esfuerzo a algo y se empeña, muchas veces termina inspirando a otros".
La segunda entrega de la Taberna Kamogawa ofrece seis nuevos casos para recrear platos que alguna vez fueron importantes para alguien y ahora son poco más que un bonito recuerdo. Historias emocionantes y bien escritas que además he disfrutado por devolverme a las calles de Kioto.
La segunda entrega de la Taberna Kamogawa ofrece seis nuevos casos para recrear platos que alguna vez fueron importantes para alguien y ahora son poco más que un bonito recuerdo. Historias emocionantes y bien escritas que además he disfrutado por devolverme a las calles de Kioto.
January 8, 2025
Gentle, cosy writing with such a charming tone, written in a wonderful and nostalgic way that only the Japanese can do so well. Lovely plot; visiting a backstreet restaurant whilst searching for a meal that changed your life. I finished it with a smile on my face. I love the messages these sorts of books convey.
March 9, 2025
a delightful and evocative tale that blends food, memory and the complexities of personal and family history. with a well-constructed plot and rich character development, the novel immerses readers in a world where food is more than just sustenance, but rather a bridge to the past and a catalyst for personal growth.
the book follows the journey of a small, nostalgic restaurant that specializes in rediscovering forgotten recipes, where each dish tells a story. through the eyes of the protagonist, we explore the intertwining themes of loss, the passage of time and the power of food to evoke memories. Kashiwai’s writing is at once lyrical and grounded, offering a heartfelt exploration of the connections between food, culture and human relationships. it shines with its ability to evoke vivid sensory experiences, since the descriptions of the food, from the tastes to the smells, are mouthwatering and immersive. I could almost taste the dishes themselves, making the food a central, almost character-like element in the story.
the book’s exploration of memory, family history, as well as the role of food in shaping identity is deeply moving. it's not just about rediscovering old recipes but about reconnecting with the past, healing old wounds, as well as finding meaning in seemingly ordinary things.
Kashiwai deftly explores themes of loss, healing and reconnection, which are universal and relatable. the way food is used to symbolize these deeper emotional currents adds layers of meaning to the story, making it both a sensory and emotional experience.
overall, it is a beautifully written exploration of how food connects us to our past and helps us navigate the complexities of our emotions. while I believe that the pacing and predictability could have been improved, the book’s vivid descriptions and deep emotional resonance make it a highly enjoyable read. Hisashi Kashiwai captures the quiet beauty of rediscovering forgotten traditions and finding peace in the process.
the book follows the journey of a small, nostalgic restaurant that specializes in rediscovering forgotten recipes, where each dish tells a story. through the eyes of the protagonist, we explore the intertwining themes of loss, the passage of time and the power of food to evoke memories. Kashiwai’s writing is at once lyrical and grounded, offering a heartfelt exploration of the connections between food, culture and human relationships. it shines with its ability to evoke vivid sensory experiences, since the descriptions of the food, from the tastes to the smells, are mouthwatering and immersive. I could almost taste the dishes themselves, making the food a central, almost character-like element in the story.
the book’s exploration of memory, family history, as well as the role of food in shaping identity is deeply moving. it's not just about rediscovering old recipes but about reconnecting with the past, healing old wounds, as well as finding meaning in seemingly ordinary things.
Kashiwai deftly explores themes of loss, healing and reconnection, which are universal and relatable. the way food is used to symbolize these deeper emotional currents adds layers of meaning to the story, making it both a sensory and emotional experience.
overall, it is a beautifully written exploration of how food connects us to our past and helps us navigate the complexities of our emotions. while I believe that the pacing and predictability could have been improved, the book’s vivid descriptions and deep emotional resonance make it a highly enjoyable read. Hisashi Kashiwai captures the quiet beauty of rediscovering forgotten traditions and finding peace in the process.
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