Takeaway: Stories from a childhood behind the counter

Angela Hui

5 Reviews

Rated 0

Autobiography: business & industry, Food & society, Black & Asian studies, General cookery & recipes, Nostalgia: general

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Trapeze
- Paperback Nov 28, 2023 | 9781398705562 | RRP $26.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Oct 25, 2022 | 9781398705548 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705579 | RRP $14.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705586 | RRP $39.99 Buy Now
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Imprint

Trapeze
- Paperback Nov 28, 2023 | 9781398705562 | RRP $26.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Oct 25, 2022 | 9781398705548 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705579 | RRP $14.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705586 | RRP $39.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
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Imprint

Trapeze
- Paperback Nov 28, 2023 | 9781398705562 | RRP $26.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Oct 25, 2022 | 9781398705548 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705579 | RRP $14.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705586 | RRP $39.99 Buy Now
Play Sample
0:00
Imprint

Trapeze
- Paperback Nov 28, 2023 | 9781398705562 | RRP $26.99 Buy Now
- Hardback Oct 25, 2022 | 9781398705548 | RRP $45.00 Buy Now
- e-Book Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705579 | RRP $14.99 Buy Now
- Audiobook Jul 21, 2022 | 9781398705586 | RRP $39.99 Buy Now
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An eye-opening memoir revealing the stories behind living in and running a Chinese takeaway

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.

Praise for Takeaway: Stories from a childhood behind the counter

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
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
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
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

Angela Hui

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.