The Hundred-Foot Journey (2014)

Helen Mirren: Madame Mallory

Photos 

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...

• Papa : She thinks she owns everybody in town. Do you hear me up there? I say no! Don't try to steal my children!

  Madame Mallory : I will report you, Mr. Kadam, for making too much noise.

  Papa : And I will report you for attempted child abduction!

  Madame Mallory : Have you even asked the boy what he wants?

  Papa : You deliberately seduced him!

  Madame Mallory : [Scoffs] 

  Papa : You seduced his mind,with your awful, tasteless, empty sauces! With your pitiful little squashed bits of garlic!

  Madame Mallory : That is called subtlety of flavor.

  Papa : It's called meanness of spirit! If you have a spice, use it! Don't sprinkle it. Spoon it in!

  Madame Mallory : What you do not seem to understand is that there is such a thing as enough. Enough is enough, arrêtez!

  Papa : Yes, enough of you. Always up there like a queen or something. You tell him, it's "classical". What is "classical"?

  Madame Mallory : "Classical" comes from the word "class". And that is what he will learn in my kitchen. He will learn how to cook with class.

  Papa : Indian cannot become French, and the French cannot become Indian.

  Madame Mallory : Mr. Kadam, I think I have just spent the whole day washing those words off your wall.

• Madame Mallory : Do any of you know the words to the Marseillaise? Jean-Pierre?

  Jean-Pierre : Of course. It's our national anthem.

  Madame Mallory : Do you know all the words? "Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras. Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!" "They come to slit the throats of our sons, our wives". Alors continuer Jean-Pierre.

  Jean-Pierre : "Aux armes citoyens, formez vos bataillons, marchons".

  Madame Mallory : And in English, so we can all understand?

  Jean-Pierre : "To arms citizens, from your battalions, let us march. May their unpure blood..."

  Madame Mallory : "Flow in our fields." And that is what it means to be French n'est-ce pas Jean-Pierre?

  Jean-Pierre : Yes.

  Madame Mallory : Well there are other ways to be French. Liberty. Equality. Fraternity.

  Jean-Pierre : Why are you talking only to me?

  Madame Mallory : Because you know who set the fire, don't you?

  Jean-Pierre : Would you surrender to these invaders?

  Madame Mallory : You tell your friends that these bombs have ended a war. They have brought peace. Bravo. You're a chef. I do not pay you to burn things. Take your knives and go.

• 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?

• Madame Mallory : Last night, we served this. Miserable, overcooked asparagus. In this restaurant, the cuisine is not an old, tired marriage. It is a passionate affair of the heart.

• Madame Mallory : Well, curry is curry, is it not?

  Papa : Obviously you've never eaten Indian food, especially cooked by my son.

  Madame Mallory : Yes, I understand you people like to keep everything in the family.

• Mayor : Madame, may I offer you a word of caution? These people are different. They are not French. Some in the village, the worst sort, say ugly things about them. Be careful, you are not seen in sympathy with them.

  Madame Mallory : I am rarely accused of being in sympathy with anyone.

• Lady Shepherd : Is it a wedding party over there?

  Madame Mallory : A funeral. The death of good taste in Saint-Antonin.

• Madame Mallory : Are you nervous? Because, you know, you cannot be nervous and make a sauce hollandaise. The eggs will feel it, they will separate.

• Madame Mallory : That is a beautiful bechamel sauce. White as snow! Perfect! But be careful with the heat though.

• Papa : They are bloody cruel to make you go through all this every year.

  Madame Mallory : Yes. Cruel. Like the gods.

• Papa : Remember that time we were taking a walk along the river? We picked flowers and...

  Madame Mallory : We did not pick flowers. We were looking for mushrooms. And we found flowers.

  Papa : Which we picked!

  Madame Mallory : Yes, picked flowers, of course, but we were *looking* for mushrooms.

• Madame Mallory : Alors, for God's sake, come on, let's eat!