Book Review : Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan

    Over a decade, food and cooking shows have been popular on TV, and these shows play an immense role on weekends. Whether we’re trying the recipes or not, watching them cook makes us feel satisfied and acts as a guilty pleasure. At times, they can also be a little motivating to try new dishes.  

Imagine how it would feel if an entire cooking show were described in a book. The book created with this idea is "Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshminarayan".  Since it's a work of fiction, there's one major twist: the cooking show mentioned in the book is for the best cook in the entire galaxy.

Upon reading the blurb of this book and my shameless confession of falling for the chocolate-sprinkled strawberry donut on the cover, those two acted as the two major reasons for picking up this book.

The story starts with Saraswati Kaveri, an Earthling who is thrilled upon receiving her invitation/acceptance letter to participate in the Interstellar MegaChef cooking show, which selects the best chef across the entire galaxy. The show is held on the planet Primus. She arrives there with her robotic bird pet, Kili, full of hopes and dreams. Then enters Serenity Komaka Siriharan, aka Serenity Ko, a Primus citizen struggling with her work. Her boss claims she exhibits rude, dictator-like behavior, and with no promotion, she has taken a break from it. Saras and Serenity Ko meet at one point, and from there, the story takes a different turn. A little spoiler, it’s not just about winning the cooking show; the story delves deep into cooking and the emotions with it.

Interstellar MegaChef is a science fiction novel that seamlessly blends culinary themes and food into its narrative. Unlike most sci-fi books I've read, which typically focus on war or romance, this book stands out by offering something uniquely different. Beyond the food, the cultural fusion is beautifully woven throughout the story. Speaking of narration, this is a hefty book with four hundred and fifty pages, and as such, the storytelling is expansive, vivid, and meticulously detailed. Every scene is described with precision, and the constant use of rich vocabulary elevates the narrative.

I love the character of Saras in this book; she is strong, competitive, and constantly pushes herself to break free from her confines. As an outsider on Primus, the disdain she faces and her emotional comebacks were among my favorite aspects of the entire read. The intertwining of Ko's grandparents' past with her present circumstances, along with Saras' entrance, was flawlessly woven into the narrative.

The recipe names and the foods mentioned in this book feel remarkably authentic and realistic. Especially when the word 'coffee' is pronounced as 'Kaapi,' it adds a layer of comfort, as many households in South India (Tamil Nadu) use that pronunciation. At times, while reading, I found myself growing hungry and indulging in snacks as I went along. The reason I mention this is to highlight the significant and impressive role food plays in this story. That said, the sci-fi elements and technological aspects are seamlessly woven into the narrative, running parallel to the story throughout. Overall I enjoyed reading this delightful story.

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