The kitchen that Ali portrays is a melting pot of cultures and dialects, full of exploited agency (temporary contract) workers and clashes of culture. In the Kitchen is an attempt to explore the underbelly of the culinary world through the fictional but aptly named kitchen of London’s Imperial Hotel (formerly shabby, now fabulous). Unfortunately, it brings less than expected to the table. With such a hot setting, one might expect Monica Ali’s latest novel In the Kitchen to sizzle. Extreme personalities, hot stoves, extreme pressure: it’s a recipe for great entertainment. The drama, it seems, only adds to the appeal of its product. The fascination is one that has tended to glamorize food even as it portrays the foul language and violence of many a prestigious restaurant kitchen. One need only take a brief look at the TV Guide or the magazine aisle at the supermarket to know that we are a culture recently obsessed with kitchens, celebrity chefs, and gourmet culinary delights.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |