''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

''A leading light in the British Chinese community'' Fuchsia Dunlop

''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'' Hetty Lui McKinnon, author of To Asia, With Love

''There is so much to admire about Jenny''s writing... Brilliant'' Anna Jones, author of One: Pot, Pan, Planet

''She is a writer of force and warmth. Everything she writes is a must-read!'' Dr Mukta Das, food anthropologist

''Essential reading for any serious culture enthusiast'' Daniel York Loh, Associate Artistic Director at Kakilang Arts