Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet ~ Food For Thought

Rating: ****

It is time for Food for Thought where we

*cook the books*, so to speak.

I'm joining the very talented

Jain, author of Once in Blue Moon

and of Food With Style

in this fun bi-monthly meme.

My book club chose to read

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet,

the first novel of Jamie Ford.

As is frequently the case, it would not have been my choice

but I'm glad they picked it.

I learned a great deal from reading this book.

This nostalgic book takes place in Seattle, Washington during World War II & gives a glimpse into the harsh reality of the
forced encampment of the Japanese people who lived there.

I was vaguely aware of the tragic circumstances of what was done to the Japanese in the Pacific Northwest during the war but this book makes you see it from the perspective of those who lived through it.


It follows the childhood love of a Japanese girl, Keiko & a Chinese boy named Henry, both of whom were born in America &
were legitimate citizens of the United States
who were separated when her family was forced into an internment camp.

I found the characters believable but there was one scene where Henry sneaks into the camp to see Keiko & even spends the night but then is able to just walk out by mingling with a crowd in the morning.
Highly doubtful!!!
Implausible episodes such as this & a few loose ends
are the only reason I didn't give this 5 stars.



The book is written in alternating time periods
(not so frustrating to read,
as each chapter has the year as part of its title)
from Henry's point of view as a 13 yr-old &
that of a man in his late 50's.

It touches on the age old conflict between fathers & sons as well.
Henry's father's fierce national pride & deep seated hatred
of the Japanese for what they did to his family in China
cause devastating effects on his relationship with
his son when he learns about Keiko & their friendship.




Lucky for me, there were LOTS of food choices mentioned in the book,
because several were strange ones I would never imagine making.

(Note all the sticky bookmarks...
I keep a pack beside me whenever I'm reading now!)

At first I thought "apple pear" was a typo.
I wondered what he meant so
I went hunting for some information.

I found out that Nashi are sometimes called the Asian pear, however it has many names & is also known as a Japanese pear, Korean or Taiwan Pear or apple pear.

I learned that Nashi pears have a sweet taste & interestingly, they don't turn brown!
Makes them perfect for a Waldorf salad instead of apples.
I couldn't find any around here but will keep an eye out
for them & will make Waldorf salad for sure if I find some!

I decided to make Cathy's Egg Salad Sandwich
with bacon & lettuce
from her wonderful blog,

Wives with Knives

Cathy hails from Portland, Oregon
which is near the location of the
internment Camp Minidoka.
You may follow the link above to
read more about this National Historic site
that marks a sad page in America's history.

I also learned that when using chopsticks, to never point them directly at people
& never to stick them standing upright in the rice bowl,
because this is a reminder of the incense burned at funerals.

I learned of the Chinese custom of giving each guest, as they departed a funeral,
a small white envelope containing
a coin & a piece of candy.

This package is called bak gim or 'white gold'.
It symbolizes money or a gift from the deceased.

The candy was to be eaten immediately after the funeral
to sweeten the memory of the event.
The coin was to be spent on something that would
bring happiness to offset the sadness of the solemn time.


I think this is a wonderful custom &
I want Dove Chocolate to be given out after I die!!

I learned about the tradition of never filling your own teacup but
always doing that for someone else and allowing them to return the favor.

To me, a well written book is one that will make you think.

More importantly, it will make you feel & learn.

This one did all of that.

Thank you, Jain, for hosting Food For Thought


It is a challenge & a pleasure to participate &

I always come away better for doing so.

I hope everyone who visits the Gazebo House feels the same way.

fondly,