One of the most influential Indian voices of the past century is represented in this delicious compilation of writing about food and its role in our lives. This book has something for every taste, from opulent feasts, contemporary diets, and cooking classes that are rites of passage to phoney fasts and real ones, fish, feni, and hot dishes that taste like retaliation. Ruchir Joshi's toast to the senses as he describes his characters finding a truly alternate use for some completely innocent shrikhand contrasts sharply with Gandhi's guilt-ridden tale of his failed experiment with eating meat. Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh, and Saadat Hasan Manto assure that we will never view chutney, a Tibetan momo, or jelly the same way through their inventive culinary interpretations of history Salman Rushdie, Amitav Ghosh and Saadat Hasan Manto ensure that we will never look at chutney, a Tibetan momo or jelly in quite the same way again. Food becomes the less appetizing religious ?line of control? for Abdul Bismillah?s ?guest? when a simple meal illustrates the rather thin divide between guest and host, while subtler shades of deprivation mark Anjana Appachana?s Anu as she keeps a fast that reeks of prejudice. And in faraway lands, ?across the seven seas?, the search for fresh fish accentuates the loneliness of a life without familiar moorings for Jhumpa Lahiri?s Mrs Sen even as Anita Desai?s Arun learns from his American hosts the importance of ?keeping the freezer full?. As much about food as it is about good writing, A Matter of Taste serves up a veritable feast for the senses and food for thought to sample or devour, as one pleases.