Der Koch

Maravan, 33, a Tamil asylum seeker, is working as a kitchen hand in a top hotel in Zurich, at a level far below his abilities. For Maravan is a gifted and passionate cook. In Sri Lanka his great aunt had introduced him to the art of cooking, and not least into the secrets of aphrodisiac cuisine. When he is fired, his colleague Andrea encourages him into a deal of a very special kind: joint catering for love menus. At first they cook for couples with whom they are put in touch by a sex therapist. But word gets around about the success of Love Food, and a much wealthier clientele starts showing an interest: men from the world of politics and business--and from the grey zones on their margins. Maravan is worried that the business could become unsavoury--and indeed it does. But he is in urgent need of the money in order to enable his family back in Sri Lanka to survive.--Publisher's website.