The Menu of Happiness

The Menu of Happiness, translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, is the third book in the delightful, bestselling Japanese sleuthing series for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. This is an interconnected series, which can be read separately, or binged all at once!

Welcome to the Kamogawa Diner, where every meal is a mystery ready to be solved. This unique establishment is run by a father–daughter duo who offer more than just mouth-watering meals. They act as ‘food detectives’, delving into the past to produce nostalgia-infused dishes for their hungry clientele.

Among the patrons is a once-renowned pianist whose promising career was marred by a self-inflicted injury. She longs to taste the yakisoba she shared with the only man she ever truly loved. The diner also welcomes a man haunted by shadows of regret. His mind races back to the gyoza served by the parents of a lover he once jilted, as he seeks understanding and, perhaps, forgiveness.

For the Kamogawa Diner doesn't just serve food. Each dish is a portal to the past, serving not just sustenance but solace and reconnection through the miracle of its delicious recipes. The Menu of Happiness follows on from The Kamogawa Food Detectives and The Restaurant of Lost Recipes.

Review

Feel-good 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 cafe-esque setting with beloved staff who deliver plenty of empathic kindness to customers whose visits inspire standalone narratives . . . Deliciousness lingers ― Booklist

This cosy 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

Author Hisashi Kashiwai shows a tremendous amount of empathy for his characters as well as a gentle humour. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll open a delivery app ― Apple Books

About the Author

Hisashi Kashiwai, the author of The Kamogawa Food Detectives series, was born in 1952 and was raised in Kyoto. He graduated from Osaka Dental University. After graduating, he returned to Kyoto and worked as a dentist. He has written extensively about his native city and has collaborated on TV programmes and magazines.