SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE FORTNUM & MASON DEBUT FOOD BOOK AWARD 2023
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‘A beautiful book: compellingly written, tender and thoughtful’ Ruby Tandoh
‘A warm, incandescent memoir about identity, food, family, relationships’ Annie Lord
Growing up in a Chinese takeaway in rural Wales, Angela Hui was made aware at a very young age of just how different she and her family were seen by her local community. From attacks on the shopfront (in other words, their home), to verbal abuse from customers, and confrontations that ended with her dad wielding the meat cleaver; life growing up in a takeaway was far from peaceful.
But alongside the strife, there was also beauty and joy in the rhythm of life in the takeaway and in being surrounded by the food of her home culture. Family dinners before service, research trips to Hong Kong, preparing for the weekend rush with her brothers – the takeaway is a hive of activity before a customer even places their order of ‘egg-fried rice and chop suey’.
Bringing readers along on the journey from Angela’s earliest memories in the takeaway to her family closing the shop after 30 years in business, this is a brilliantly warm and immersive memoir from someone on the other side of the counter.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE FORTNUM & MASON DEBUT FOOD BOOK AWARD 2023
_______________
‘A beautiful book: compellingly written, tender and thoughtful’ Ruby Tandoh
‘A warm, incandescent memoir about identity, food, family, relationships’ Annie Lord
Growing up in a Chinese takeaway in rural Wales, Angela Hui was made aware at a very young age of just how different she and her family were seen by her local community. From attacks on the shopfront (in other words, their home), to verbal abuse from customers, and confrontations that ended with her dad wielding the meat cleaver; life growing up in a takeaway was far from peaceful.
But alongside the strife, there was also beauty and joy in the rhythm of life in the takeaway and in being surrounded by the food of her home culture. Family dinners before service, research trips to Hong Kong, preparing for the weekend rush with her brothers – the takeaway is a hive of activity before a customer even places their order of ‘egg-fried rice and chop suey’.
Bringing readers along on the journey from Angela’s earliest memories in the takeaway to her family closing the shop after 30 years in business, this is a brilliantly warm and immersive memoir from someone on the other side of the counter.
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Reviews
Takeaway is a wonder: a warm, incandescent memoir about identity, food, family, relationships. It's so affecting I read it with a lump in my throat -- Annie Lord, author of Notes on Heartbreak
This is the type of book that I would buy for friends on repeat, safe in the knowledge that they too would love it -- Ravneet Gill, author of The Pastry Chef's Guide
Takeaway feels like coming home. It is a testament to the resilience of Chinese families and a tender reminder to cherish the many ways love is shown.-- Tori West, author of It's Not Just You
I read Takeaway in one sitting. Angela's writing is so relatable. Chinese takeaways can't taste the same again when you know how much love, sacrifice and soul families have put into each dish -- Elaine Chong, journalist and presenter
I loved it and found it very moving, both as a memoir, a thriller, and the villain origin story of Britain's most exciting young food writer -- Jonathan Nunn, Editor of Vittles
A rare, precious insight into the lives of those behind the takeaways that were so integral to local communities around the UK yet often remained on the periphery . . . a brilliant book that offers a unique perspective on something familiar to so many -- Melissa Thompson, award-winning food writer and columnist for BBC Good Food
This book deeply touched my heart as well as my taste buds! A visceral memoir like no other! So grateful for its existence! -- Naomi Shimada, author of Mixed Feelings
A beautiful book: compellingly written, tender and thoughtful. It shines a light onto a part of our food culture that's beloved and yet often undervalued . . . I loved it -- Ruby Tandoh, bestselling author of Eat Up! and Cook as You Are
An un-put-down-able account of coming of age - and coming of identity. Hui's narration is quirky, funny and often poignant. -- Jenny Lau, founder of Celestial Peach