A Taipei Girl's Retro Shopping List

The runaway bestseller from Taiwan. A memoir of food and family.

In a bustling, lively kitchen in Taipei, Hung Ai-Chu watched her mother and grandmother prepare loving meals for the family and host guests from all over the world for years. Food became a language of connection across three generations of women, as they cooked together and made frequent trips to the Dadaocheng and Yongle markets for fresh ingredients.

This critically acclaimed debut memoir brings the flavours of Taiwan to life – from street stalls and traditional markets to the recipes passed down to Hung from her grandmother and mother. Through interconnected essays, she reflects on the powerful ways in which food transforms our lives, helping us sustain ourselves through difficult times and keeping fond memories alive.

Nostalgic and deeply moving, A Taipei Girl’s Retro Shopping List is a poignant reminder of the slow, intentional ways of cooking and eating that have been long forgotten in a fast-paced life.