The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai - Book With Me

The book is a heartwarming and delightful novel that explores the power of food, memory, and connection. The father-daughter duo, Nagare and Koishi, run a diner and a food detective agency where they not only serve delicious meals but also help customers rediscover lost or forgotten dishes from their past. They have no signboard because Nagare believes that whoever is destined to be at the diner will find their way there.
The book is structured as a series of short stories, each focusing on a different client seeking the help of the Kamogawa Food Detectives. As Nagare recreates their dishes, he also helps people reconnect with their past, find closure, and discover new possibilities for their future. Some of the different clients that come include a widower pining for his late wife's special noodles, a teenage girl looking to recreate a meal she once had with her beloved grandfather who now has dementia, an old woman looking to taste a meal she had at her first proposal, and another client wants to eat the mackerel sushi that soothed him as a lonely child.
The author’s love for food is evident in the detailed descriptions of traditional Japanese cuisine, which will make your mouth water. Don’t read this book on an empty stomach!
The book is a celebration of good company and the power of a delicious meal, reminding us that enjoying the little things in life can significantly improve our overall well-being.