“Every bite takes you home”
That was the quote that gave me reasons to shed a bucket-full of tears. For me, it was the climax of the movie: The Hundred-Foot Journey. This movie was just another favorite among my circle of friends, but this was the movie that was a “spot-on”, a direct-to-the-point, and as per the reviews, the movie was “an excellent characterization of the type of globalization our society has come to bear”.
Others may have seen it differently, in another set of eyes, another set of points of view. And I have my different eye on the movie. Why is “Every bite takes you home” significant to me?
A: It was on the verge of success that Hassan (the main lead actor) almost lost his soul in “Innovation, innovation” and of getting what others thought of the “Greatest” accomplishment any french chef could ever dream of: the Mischelin Stars. He is passionate, and delighted with culinary and has been looking for a sense of purpose. Not so different to everyone else, not so different from you and me. We aim for a purpose of living, we ponder on our purpose of existence. Hassan has found his purpose, and the best part of it was that his dad and his family supported him all through out. He has a village, a family who pushes him to his best. And he gladly took the challenge and journey with full heart, going out from his comfort zone (which by the way, the training haute cuisine restaurant was just across his family’s established restaurant).
For those who were able to watched the movie (and for those who hasn’t watched it yet, THIS IS A SPOILER ALERT), just a question for us to ponder.
What makes a Hassan, different from his peers? from Marguerite?
For me, he has the culture, he has something to tell, he has a heart. I don’t say Marguerite doesn’t any of what I’ve mentioned, but Hassan can do all those innovative dishes because he dared to do what was expected. He didn’t entirely lost his Indian background of culinary, but instead he fused it with French “classical” cuisine. He never was scared to learn new things, and never was scared of the risk. He never was scared what other may have think, and he never forgot the role of family in every decisions he made. Remember, everyone else may come and go, but it is always the family who always got our back.
It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice.
– Jose Rizal
My only dream for everyone is we pursue the greater pursuits, never give up on your ideals, don’t give up on your dreams. Failing is just a setback. Remember, even the great Thomas Edison failed a thousand times to perfect the light bulb.
But then again…
“Every dish is a memory..”
So what’s your story? what’s your dish?
Letters to Everyone 