PERHAPS A GIFT VOUCHER FOR MUM?: MOTHER'S DAY

Close Notification

Your cart does not contain any items

Takeaway

Stories from a childhood behind the counter

Angela Hui

$26.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

QTY:

English
Trapeze
28 November 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2023

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.

By:  
Imprint:   Trapeze
Country of Publication:   United Kingdom
Dimensions:   Height: 196mm,  Width: 128mm,  Spine: 24mm
Weight:   260g
ISBN:   9781398705562
ISBN 10:   139870556X
Pages:   352
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  ELT Advanced ,  Primary
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active

Angela Hui is an award-winning journalist, editor and author of Takeaway: Stories from a Childhood Behind the Counter. Her work has been published in BBC, Guardian, Financial Times, HuffPost, Independent, Lonely Planet, Refinery29, Vice, and more. Currently, she is freelance and was the former editor at REKKI, a free app transforming the way chefs order ingredients, and former food and drink writer at Time Out.

Reviews for Takeaway: Stories from a childhood behind the counter

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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


See Also