Some News – I Am Writing A Book!

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may have noticed that my posts have slowed up somewhat. But I haven’t hung up my pen (or my typing fingers). In fact, far from it. Instead, I have been beavering away on my laptop, devoting more energy to writing than ever before. That’s because… I am writing a book!

‘Friday Night Chicken’ is a personal story, with themes close to my heart – a coming-of-age food memoir set in North Manchester’s Jewish community, told through the eyes of my food-loving childhood self. Here my world was steeped in chopped herring and chicken soup, challah and bagels; my Grandma spooning out crisp baubles of gefilte fish from the deep-pan fryer. It is both an intimate portrait of family life, where food is connection and devotion, and a wider lens to explore themes of immigration and identity, religion and ritual.

It’s still in its early stages, and isn’t due out until April 2027. However, the book was recently shortlisted for this year’s Jane Grigson Trust Award (for books in development by first-time food book writers), which has resulted in a bit of a reveal. It is a recognition I am very honoured to receive, not least as it’s a prodigious award and features a panel of judges whose writing I really admire.

I’ll be sharing more details of the book and the writing journey as we get closer to publication in April 2027. But one thing I’m already learning is that writing a book is a real team effort. So a huge thank you to my fabulous and supportive agent Kay Peddle – I can’t sing her praises more highly enough. And the same for my editor, Ru Merritt, and the team at Ebury / Penguin Random House, in putting their faith in my book, and already giving it such wonderful guidance and care. Shout out too to my wife Sophie, who gives me the most thoughtful and helpful feedback.

In part, the book has come about thanks to this blog, and so I really want to thank you for reading my work, and supporting me along the way. For now, I’m just getting on with the writing, which I’m really enjoying. But come April 2027, Friday Night Chicken will be out in the world, and for that I cannot wait.

Aaron x