Takeaway - Stories From A Childhood Behind The Counter By Angela Hui

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

The Counter

20220801

Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales.

It opened on the luckiest day of the century, 8 August 1988, an auspicious date with the number eight signifying good wealth, fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture - three key factors needed for a young, growing immigrant family.

On one side of the counter Angela interacts with the takeaway's loyal staff, Cecilia, Dewi and Lowri. They serve and deliver food lovingly prepped and cooked by Angela's parents. Regular customers pester Angela at the counter as she tries to do her homework.

Running a Chinese takeaway is hard work and there is tension in the overlapping spaces of home and work, playground and business. Angela and her two brothers, Keen and Jacky, also have to act as go-betweens for their parents when there are language barriers.

But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture.

On the other side of the counter, Angela enjoys family dinners before service, dishes a world away from the simplified, watered-down Western version ordered by the locals - whole steamed sea bass, Cantonese soup, steamed egg, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. To them, food is love and food symbolises family.

A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing.

In this episode, Angela recalls sitting at the takeaway counter from a young age. She can't remember a time when she and her two brothers didn't have to be rushing home to be ready to work by 5pm.

Read by Priya Hall

Abridged by Anna Magnusson

Produced by Alexandra Quinn

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.

The Happy Gathering

20220802

Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales.

But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture.

A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing.

In this episode, Angela struggles to communicate naturally with her Cantonese speaking parents at home. And when the Hui family go on their weekly trip to Cardiff to meet friends and restock with supplies, Angela's aunties tease her for not mastering their ancestral tongue.

Read by Priya Hall

Abridged by Anna Magnusson

Produced by Alexandra Quinn

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town.

Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.

Hong Kong

20220803

Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales.

But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture.

A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing.

In this episode, the Hui family take a summer holiday to Hong Kong to visit family and stock up on restaurant supplies. It's unusual for Angela to spend time with her family outside the takeaway and the change in pace means she sees her parents in different ways.

Read by Priya Hall

Abridged by Anna Magnusson

Produced by Alexandra Quinn

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town.

Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.

The Customers

20220804

Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales.

But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture.

A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing.

In this episode, the Hui family enjoy interacting with their favourite customers but others are intent on singling the family out; life growing up in a takeaway is far from peaceful.

Read by Priya Hall

Abridged by Anna Magnusson

Produced by Alexandra Quinn

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town.

Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.

Opening-closing

20220805

Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales.

But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture.

A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing.

In this episode, Angela is away at university in Cardiff but she still travels home at weekends to help at Lucky Star. Things are changing in everyone's lives and the family consider the future of the takeaway.

Read by Priya Hall

Abridged by Anna Magnusson

Produced by Alexandra Quinn

A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4

Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town.

Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
01	The Counter	20220801	Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales. It opened on the luckiest day of the century, 8 August 1988, an auspicious date with the number eight signifying good wealth, fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture - three key factors needed for a young, growing immigrant family. On one side of the counter Angela interacts with the takeaway's loyal staff, Cecilia, Dewi and Lowri. They serve and deliver food lovingly prepped and cooked by Angela's parents. Regular customers pester Angela at the counter as she tries to do her homework. Running a Chinese takeaway is hard work and there is tension in the overlapping spaces of home and work, playground and business. Angela and her two brothers, Keen and Jacky, also have to act as go-betweens for their parents when there are language barriers. But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture. On the other side of the counter, Angela enjoys family dinners before service, dishes a world away from the simplified, watered-down Western version ordered by the locals - whole steamed sea bass, Cantonese soup, steamed egg, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. To them, food is love and food symbolises family. A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing. In this episode, Angela recalls sitting at the takeaway counter from a young age. She can't remember a time when she and her two brothers didn't have to be rushing home to be ready to work by 5pm. Read by Priya Hall Abridged by Anna Magnusson Produced by Alexandra Quinn A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4 Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.
02	The Happy Gathering	20220802	Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales. It opened on the luckiest day of the century, 8 August 1988, an auspicious date with the number eight signifying good wealth, fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture - three key factors needed for a young, growing immigrant family. On one side of the counter Angela interacts with the takeaway's loyal staff, Cecilia, Dewi and Lowri. They serve and deliver food lovingly prepped and cooked by Angela's parents. Regular customers pester Angela at the counter as she tries to do her homework. Running a Chinese takeaway is hard work and there is tension in the overlapping spaces of home and work, playground and business. Angela and her two brothers, Keen and Jacky, also have to act as go-betweens for their parents when there are language barriers. But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture. On the other side of the counter, Angela enjoys family dinners before service, dishes a world away from the simplified, watered-down Western version ordered by the locals - whole steamed sea bass, Cantonese soup, steamed egg, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. To them, food is love and food symbolises family. A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing. In this episode, Angela struggles to communicate naturally with her Cantonese speaking parents at home. And when the Hui family go on their weekly trip to Cardiff to meet friends and restock with supplies, Angela's aunties tease her for not mastering their ancestral tongue. Read by Priya Hall Abridged by Anna Magnusson Produced by Alexandra Quinn A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4 Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town. Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.
03	Hong Kong	20220803	Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales. It opened on the luckiest day of the century, 8 August 1988, an auspicious date with the number eight signifying good wealth, fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture - three key factors needed for a young, growing immigrant family. On one side of the counter Angela interacts with the takeaway's loyal staff, Cecilia, Dewi and Lowri. They serve and deliver food lovingly prepped and cooked by Angela's parents. Regular customers pester Angela at the counter as she tries to do her homework. Running a Chinese takeaway is hard work and there is tension in the overlapping spaces of home and work, playground and business. Angela and her two brothers, Keen and Jacky, also have to act as go-betweens for their parents when there are language barriers. But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture. On the other side of the counter, Angela enjoys family dinners before service, dishes a world away from the simplified, watered-down Western version ordered by the locals - whole steamed sea bass, Cantonese soup, steamed egg, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. To them, food is love and food symbolises family. A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing. In this episode, the Hui family take a summer holiday to Hong Kong to visit family and stock up on restaurant supplies. It's unusual for Angela to spend time with her family outside the takeaway and the change in pace means she sees her parents in different ways. Read by Priya Hall Abridged by Anna Magnusson Produced by Alexandra Quinn A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4 Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town. Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.
04	The Customers	20220804	Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales. It opened on the luckiest day of the century, 8 August 1988, an auspicious date with the number eight signifying good wealth, fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture - three key factors needed for a young, growing immigrant family. On one side of the counter Angela interacts with the takeaway's loyal staff, Cecilia, Dewi and Lowri. They serve and deliver food lovingly prepped and cooked by Angela's parents. Regular customers pester Angela at the counter as she tries to do her homework. Running a Chinese takeaway is hard work and there is tension in the overlapping spaces of home and work, playground and business. Angela and her two brothers, Keen and Jacky, also have to act as go-betweens for their parents when there are language barriers. But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture. On the other side of the counter, Angela enjoys family dinners before service, dishes a world away from the simplified, watered-down Western version ordered by the locals - whole steamed sea bass, Cantonese soup, steamed egg, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. To them, food is love and food symbolises family. A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing. In this episode, the Hui family enjoy interacting with their favourite customers but others are intent on singling the family out; life growing up in a takeaway is far from peaceful. Read by Priya Hall Abridged by Anna Magnusson Produced by Alexandra Quinn A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4 Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town. Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.
05	Opening-closing	20220805	Angela Hui grew up behind the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway, Lucky Star, in the former mining village of Beddau, Wales. It opened on the luckiest day of the century, 8 August 1988, an auspicious date with the number eight signifying good wealth, fortune and prosperity in Chinese culture - three key factors needed for a young, growing immigrant family. On one side of the counter Angela interacts with the takeaway's loyal staff, Cecilia, Dewi and Lowri. They serve and deliver food lovingly prepped and cooked by Angela's parents. Regular customers pester Angela at the counter as she tries to do her homework. Running a Chinese takeaway is hard work and there is tension in the overlapping spaces of home and work, playground and business. Angela and her two brothers, Keen and Jacky, also have to act as go-betweens for their parents when there are language barriers. But there is also beauty in the rhythm and joy from living in the takeaway and being surrounded by the food of Angela's home culture. On the other side of the counter, Angela enjoys family dinners before service, dishes a world away from the simplified, watered-down Western version ordered by the locals - whole steamed sea bass, Cantonese soup, steamed egg, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce. To them, food is love and food symbolises family. A blending of her Welsh and Chinese heritage, the takeaway was a place that embodied the dual identities that Angela herself was experiencing. In this episode, Angela is away at university in Cardiff but she still travels home at weekends to help at Lucky Star. Things are changing in everyone's lives and the family consider the future of the takeaway. Read by Priya Hall Abridged by Anna Magnusson Produced by Alexandra Quinn A Loftus Media production for BBC Radio 4 Angela Hui's vivid account of growing up in Lucky Star Takeaway in a small Welsh town. Angela Hui remembers growing up at the counter of her parents' Chinese takeaway in Wales.