DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes

Heartwarming stories from Kyoto's culinary detectives

Hisashi Kashiwai author Jesse Kirkwood translator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Pan Macmillan

Published:3rd Oct '24

Should be back in stock very soon

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes cover

In The Restaurant of Lost Recipes, a father-daughter duo serves more than meals; they revive lost recipes, rekindling cherished memories for their customers in Kyoto.

Set in the charming backdrop of Kyoto, The Restaurant of Lost Recipes invites readers into the unique world of the Kamogawa Diner. This delightful establishment, run by a father-daughter duo, is more than just a restaurant; it serves as a bridge to the past. As 'food detectives', they specialize in reconstructing beloved dishes from their customers' memories, allowing them to relive cherished moments through the power of food. Each story unfolds with warmth and nostalgia, highlighting the emotional connections that food can evoke.

In this sequel, the diner attracts a diverse array of patrons, each with their own poignant stories. A retired pop star seeks the tempura that marked her brief moment of fame, while a young swimmer yearns for the bento his estranged father once made. Through these encounters, The Restaurant of Lost Recipes explores themes of loss, longing, and the healing power of culinary traditions. The father and daughter duo not only serve meals; they revitalize memories, creating a comforting space where the past and present intertwine.

Translated by Jesse Kirkwood, this installment continues the beloved series that began with The Kamogawa Food Detectives. Readers will find themselves immersed in a world where every dish has a story and every meal is a journey back in time, ultimately showcasing how food can nurture the soul and rekindle forgotten connections.

Feelgood and foodie themes collide in this follow-up to The Kamogawa Food Detectives * The Times *
Kashiwai is among a certain coterie of Japanese writers to have perfected a globally successful literary formula: create a café-esque setting with beloved staff who deliver plenty of empathic kindness to customers whose visits inspire stand-alone narratives . . . Deliciousness lingers * Booklist *
This cozy book delights in Japanese cuisine * Kirkus *
A treasure trove of positivity and charm. * Prima *
In addition to tantalizing recipes, the narrative is driven by the desire to recapture lost love, reconcile with a parent, or relive one’s youth. Ingredients and items are lovingly detailed . . . The equivalent of delightful comfort food. * Library Journal *
Like sights and sounds, tastes are also deeply connected to one's memories. The depictions of the beautiful scenery of Kyoto and its native dishes, which are like the original landscape of Japan, warmed my heart -- Genki Kawamura, author of If Cats Disappeared from the World on The Kamogawa Food Detectives
The food writing is truly superb . . . Reading this heartwarming book almost feels like watching a quiet box set; it's the perfect accompaniment to a rainy autumnal Sunday -- Cambridge Edition on The Kamogawa Food Detectives
An absolute joy; hilarious, emotional, and entirely delicious. Hisashi Kashiwai's tales of love lost, found, grown older and reborn are both striking and comforting - truly one of a kind. Delectable and delightful -- Bryan Washington, author of Family Meal on The Kamogawa Food Detectives
Author Hisashi Kashiwai shows a tremendous amount of empathy for his characters as well as a gentle humor. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll open a delivery app * Apple Books *

ISBN: 9781035009626

Dimensions: 206mm x 138mm x 21mm

Weight: 284g

208 pages