The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)

Manish Dayal: Hassan

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Quotes 

• Madame Mallory : What is this flavor that is fighting against the chicken ?

  Hassan : I added some spices for flavor to the sauce, and coriander for garnish and freshness.

  Madame Mallory : But why change a recipe that is 200 years old ?

  Hassan : Because, madam, maybe 200 years is long enough.

• Papa : You want Hassan because you want another star for yourself, yes ?

  Madame Mallory : Oh, yes. Yes, I will not lie. But I will also offer him a stepping stone to the world. He deserves it. He has a gift.

  Papa : You are very stubborn.

  [rooster crowing] 

  Papa : Oh, it's morning already.

  [exhales] 

  Papa : A new dawn. So... How much will you pay him per week ?

  Madame Mallory : 200 euro.

  Papa : [chuckling]  Now you are proving you are insane.

  Madame Mallory : 250, plus food.

  Papa : If you sit in cold all night, he's worth 600.

  Madame Mallory : [scoffs]  In your dreams.

  Papa : 450, or I walk.

  Madame Mallory : 320, but 350 after three month. Do we have a deal ?

  Papa : No.

  Hassan : Yes. We have a deal.

  Papa : [speaking Hindi] 

  Hassan : Okay, relax, Papa.

  Papa : What do you mean, "relax" ? Spoiled the whole game.

  Madame Mallory : Papa, we have a deal.

  Papa : Madame...

• Hassan : [narrating]  And my mother was my instructor.

  Mama : The sea urchins taste of life, don't you think ? Life has its own flavor. Hidden in that shell, raw, beautiful life.

  Hassan : [narrating]  It was an education for all of the senses.

  Mama : But to cook, you must kill. You make ghosts. You cook to make ghosts. Spirits that live on in every ingredient.

  Hassan : [narrating]  But mostly, I was taught.

  Hassan : [Slurping]  How to taste.

  Mama : Can you taste them?

• Madame Mallory : Oh. Vous m'étonnez.

  [Chuckles] 

  Madame Mallory : You have it. Hmm. Your pigeon had it, too.

  Hassan : I know. I knew then, and I know now.

  Madame Mallory : Arrogance.

  Hassan : A chef must lead.

  Madame Mallory : Sharp and cool and hot in the mouth, all at the same time. Do you know how long it takes chefs to learn that? What will Papa say?

• Hassan : [after tasting]  Not enough cardamom.

  Mahira : Arrey, not enough gratitude.

• Hassan : Marguerite! Thank you for the books !

  Marguerite : [chuckling]  What books ?

  Hassan : The books !

• Hassan : I would like to learn about French cuisine. Perhaps you could recommend a book?

  Marguerite : And why would I do that? You're the enemy now. No?

  Hassan : See you on the battlefield.

• Mansur : Hassan, now we won't have enough time to cook the mutton properly. We should just take it off the menu, yeah?

  Hassan : No. Rest it in a little red wine, and add crushed cardamom.

  Mansur : Wine? We don't use wine.

  Hassan : This is an emergency, Mansur. Wine will flavor the meat. When in Rome.

  Mansur : Yeah, well, we're not in Rome, are we?

  Hassan : Mansur, to survive here, we're going to need to adapt. We have to make use of what is close to us. Then we pray to God that it works.

• Marguerite : What's your favorite dish to cook?

  Hassan : Jalebi.

  Marguerite : What is that?

  Hassan : Fermented dal and flour - deep fried. The smell reminds me of my mother.

  Marguerite : You're lucky. The smell of pigs' feet in vinegar reminds me of my father. Food is memories.

  Hassan : Food *is* memories.

• Hassan : How did you learn about all this stuff?

  Marguerite : I was 12 and I started with the five basics, which is béchamel, velouté, hollandaise, tomato, espagnole. You have to master those five basic sauces first.

  Hassan : And you can find all five in the books?

  Marguerite : Of course, but they're no use in books. You must find them in your heart, and then bring them to your pots. That's the secret.

• Hassan : Papa, it would only be a six-month trial. Mama would want this. I'll get a more classical training. Don't you want that for me?

  Papa : India is not classical? We are the oldest civilization in the world.

• Mukthar : What's in the pot?

  Hassan : Boeuf Bourguignon. It's a pure French dish with carrots and vegetables. - Do you want to try it?

  Aisha : Buff, bubble, bubble gum?

  Hassan : Boeuf. Boeuf.

• Mukthar : What's a Michelin star? What does it look like?

  Hassan : They're like - they're like flowers. Star flowers. Then they print them in the book I told you about.

  Aisha : Who gives them to you?

  Hassan : They're called, umm, they're called critics. They're like restaurant gods.

• Hassan : Marguerite, I'm glad that our brakes failed here. Maybe brakes break for a reason.