Takeaway: Stories from a childhood behind the counter

Review 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 ofIt's Not Just You Product Description 'A beautiful book: compellingly written, tender and thoughtful' Ruby Tadoh 'A warm, incandescent memoir about identity, food, family, relationships' Annie Lord 'The type of book that I would buy for friends on repeat' Ravneet Gill 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. Book Description An eye-opening memoir revealing the stories behind living in and running a Chinese takeaway About the Author Angela Hui is an award-winning journalist and editor from South Wales. Her work has been published in gal-dem, HuffPost, Independent, Refinery29 and Vice, among others. She lives in East London where she is currently the Food and Drink writer at Time Out London. She runs the @chinesetakeawaysuk Instagram account documenting Chinese takeaways up and down the country and sharing the stories of unseen workers in the hospitality industry.