Friday Night Chicken

SHORTLISTED FOR THE JANE GRIGSON AWARD 2025

'Aaron’s heartfelt memoir will leave your heart and mind full … but your stomach craving latkes.' Tim Anderson, chef & award-winning writer

'Beautifully written. A book which reminds us that food is the language of love.' Asma Khan, chef & bestselling author

In this captivating coming-of-age memoir, Aaron Vallance gives you a seat at the enchanting and delectable meals that shaped his understanding of the world growing up in an Ashkenazi Jewish family in 1980s Manchester.

Through exceptional storytelling, Aaron re-creates the particularities of his childhood - one where he would have chicken on a Friday, eat Challah every Saturday, bagels every Sunday, and then a smattering of chopped herring, chremsls, chrain, and latkes in between. With a stomach full, he explores the traditions, rituals, festivals and meaning behind these foods we might all recognise, celebrating the nuances of a tight-knit, if often insular, Jewish community along the way.

Written with warmth and joy, Friday Night Chicken is a one-of-a-kind story for all lovers of food and personal stories to delight in.

'Aaron is such a lyrical writer. I always learn something new.' Ruby Tandoh, bestselling author of Eat Up!

'Full of heart and warmth. A joy to read!' Angela Hui, author of Takeaway

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK as soon as stock is available.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-7 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 30 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.