An A-Z Of Chinese Food (Recipes Not Included)
“A leading light in the British Chinese community”
“A balm for the soul... Jenny Lau is a compelling and evocative storyteller, an important voice that shines bright in the world of modern food writing”
Using the universal language of food, Lau rips through an astonishing list of subjects with a uniquely original style. A must-read for lovers of food yes, but also lovers of exciting, daring writing.
- Foyles Top Ten Picks for January 2025
“She is a writer of force and warmth. Everything she writes is a must-read!”
Published 23rd January 2025, by Renegade Books
‘I started stitching together my story through a different, universal language: food.’
An A-Z of Chinese Food(Recipes Not Included) is not a recipe book, but a deliberate ‘anti-glossary’ - a delectable edible anthology that serves up Chinese flavour beyond just its taste.
Jenny Lau always found herself sitting between cultures, connected to both east and west. Hungry to understand herself, she threw herself into researching the Chinese food of her heritage. The result is An A-Z of Chinese Food - a surprising, unputdownable and deliciously enriching anthology that uses food to explore who we are and how we relate to the world.
From A is for Authentic, breaking down our assumptions of who ‘owns’ what cuisine, to R is for Rice Cooker, a humorous entry from the point of view a hard-working kitchen appliance that has seen a family through its ups and downs, An A-Z of Chinese Food will change the way you think about, see, and eat, food.
An A-Z of Chinese Food is a landmark in British food writing, somewhere between a book, a magazine, and a treatise, but completely its own thing. Jenny has the rare ability to dissect unwieldy matters of identity, race and culture with the lightness of touch that all serious topics need, combatting preconceived notions about Chinese cuisine with immaculate research and subversive humour. This book is a tonic to the mainstream of food writing.
- Jonathan Nunn
“Essential reading for any serious culture enthusiast”
A groundbreaking rhapsody of a book, that brings something brand new to the canon of diasporic food writing. An A-Z that shines completely new light on Chinese culinary heritage, with an immediacy and spirited reverence that is joy to read. Jenny Lau is a compelling and expressive storyteller: intricately weaving personal memoir, extensively researched cultural history and satirical humour with commanding eloquence. An instant classic from an essential new voice.
- Gurdeep Loyal
“It will change the way I think and write about food forever. Extremely thoughtful, smart, funny, helpful!”
Set to be one of the best books of next year. It’s so so good and genuinely don’t think I’ve read a book like it before.
- Lucy Dearlove