Set in the war-torn Kashmiri mountains, Chef is a lovely, poignant, and surprising food novel. It follows Kip as he returns to Kashmir where he was an army chef. Through the course of his train ride back, he tells the story of starting out as the apprentice to an eccentric chef, his rise to being The Chef, and what lead him to leave the army and Kashmir. Kip’s reflections on the food he cooks are both funny and enticing- I’ve been craving Indian food for a week. His descriptions of the war and the landscape are beautiful and touching.

What I loved most about this book was its ability to transport me to Kashmir, to the train running across India, to the humid kitchen where Kip works, to the room where he falls in love. It’s a great India book, food book, and, in a way, a sweet love story. This would make a wonderful Book Club selection especially for a club that likes to pair a meal with the book. ~Lillian