MANDALAY, by MiMi Aye, is a finalist for The Guild of Food Writers Awards

MiMi Aye’s cookbook MANDALAY: Recipes and Tales from a Burmese Kitchen, which was published by Bloomsbury Absolute last year, has been made a finalist for the International or Regional Cookbook Award by The Guild of Food Writers.

MANDALAY, which was one of The Financial Times’ Best Books of 2019, pulls the curtain back on Burmese cuisine making it accessible to new audiences. The rich cookbook details traditional Burmese ingredients and techniques, whilst recipes are brought to life by stories from Aye’s experiences in Burma and her personal family history.

One of the judges praised MANDALAY for offering ‘an evocative snapshot of Burmese culture and cuisine,’ whilst another commented that it is ‘a great read, her recipes all sound and looked delicious’. The book was also described as ‘a cracking cookbook that I’ll be using for years to come.’

The winners of the awards will be announced on 16th June, on The Guild of Food Writers’ Instagram feed: @thegfw

Praise for MANDALAY:

'MiMi Aye's new book is a readable, personal collection... Enlivened with family snaps and beautiful photography, it's a brilliant introduction to Myanmar's food culture.' — Delicious Magazine, Hot New Cookbooks

‘There is so much to love in MiMi Aye’s wonderful MANDALAY: RECIPES & TALES FROM A BURMESE KITCHEN but, even before I got on to the recipes, I felt that a book that told me that in Burma people greet each other by asking whether they’ve eaten yet, belonged in my life… I am so grateful to Mimi Aye for a really loving and hungry-making introduction to a fascinating cuisine.’ — Nigella Lawson

‘It’s rare to come across a book that opens up a largely unknown cuisine, but MANDALAY does exactly that. Burmese recipes that combine the deliverable with the authentic, written with calm authority leavened with personal touches from an engaging personality.’ — Tim Hayward, Financial Times, Best Books of
2019

‘Aye is a gifted recipe writer and opinionated champion of the food of her family (see, for instance, the short section on “Why MSG is A-OK”). This is a book to read as well as cook from, packed with evocative imagery.’ — The Observer, The 20 best food book of 2019

‘The book that opened my mind, and belly, to Burmese food, a cuisine I knew little about. Aye is the most beguiling of guides, weaving in tales of Burmese family and childhood travels, alongside recipes for mohinga
and pickled tea-leaf salad.’ — Tom Parker Bowles, Daily Mail, Books of the Year 2019

‘Wonderful… The perfect introduction to a cuisine that draws from its neighbours in Thailand, India and China while making dishes that are quite unique. MiMi gives detailed descriptions of ingredients, techniques
and recipes - giving the home cook all the tools, tips and - most of all - inspiration to make these dishes themselves.’ — Hot Dinners, The best cookbooks for Christmas presents in 2019

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

British-born to Burmese parents, MiMi Aye has spent herwhole life soaking up Burmese food, language, and culture through endless trips to see family and friends in Burma, as well as back at home. A passionate
advocate for Burmese cuisine, she is the writer of www.meemalee.com, founder of supper club and community, Burmese Food and Beyond, and author of NOODLE! 100 Great Recipes (Absolute Press). Her second book, MANDALAY: Recipes and Tales from a Burmese Kitchen, was published by Bloomsbury Absolute in June 2019.

BFLA Best of 2019 and Picks for 2020

We are so proud that our authors have been featured in so many of the Best of 2019 selections and picks for 2020. In celebration of these amazing achievements, we have compiled this summary of the lists in which our authors were included, along with the praise that accompanied their selection.

BEST BOOKS OF 2019

MANDALAY: RECIPES AND TALES FROM A BURMESE KITCHEN by Mimi Aye
‘It’s rare to come across a book that opens up a largely unknown cuisine, but MANDALAY does exactly that. Burmese recipes that combine the deliverable with the authentic, written with calm authority leavened with personal touches from an engaging personality.’ – Financial Times, Best Books of 2019: Food and Drink

‘This will likely be an introduction for many to an underappreciated cuisine, partly because of the politics of the place. Worry not, you are in excellent hands. Aye is a gifted recipe writer and opinionated champion of the food of her family (see, for instance, the short section on “Why MSG is A-OK”). This is a book to read as well as cook from, packed with evocative imagery.’ — The Observer, The 20 best food books of 2019

‘The book that opened my mind, and belly, to Burmese food, a cuisine I knew little about. Aye is the most beguiling of guides, weaving in tales of Burmese family and childhood travels, alongside recipes for mohinga and pickled tea-leaf salad.’ — Tom Parker Bowles, Daily Mail, Books of the Year 2019

‘Wonderful… The perfect introduction to a cuisine that draws from its neighbours in Thailand, India and China while making dishes that are quite unique. MiMi gives detailed descriptions of ingredients, techniques and recipes - giving the home cook all the tools, tips and - most of all - inspiration to make these dishes themselves.’ — Hot Dinners, The Best Cookbooks for Christmas Presents in 2019

CTRL+S by Andy Briggs
‘After more than a dozen novels for children, Andy Briggs has turned his hand to adult SF in the fast-paced, hi-tech thriller CTRL+S… A slick plot and a neat resolution.’ — The Guardian, Best Recent Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror

LITTLE by Edward Carey
’Edward Carey’s LITTLE is one of the most original historical novels of the year. Illustrated with the author’s unsettling, black-and-white drawings, it is inspired by the early life of Marie Grosholtz, better known as Madame Tussaud, although it is filled with Carey’s own vivid imaginings… By turns macabre, funny, touching and oddly life-affirming, LITTLE is a remarkable achievement.’ — The Sunday Times, Paperbacks of the Year

LOWBORN by Kerry Hudson
A Book of the Year for the Book Shambles podcast

‘[Kerry’s] writing is bold, beautiful, honest and sometimes painful to read. It gets my vote because Kerry illustrates the realities of what austerity in the UK does to people. At a time when people are relying on food banks, facing homelessness and struggling with cuts – it’s an essential read.’ — Stylist, The Decade’s 15 Best Books by Remarkable Women Authors

‘The power imbalance in Kerry Hudson’s memoir, LOWBORN, is both individual – a childhood surrounded by chaotic, often substance-altered adults – and societal. For her, the combination meant: “1 single mother; 2 stays in foster care; 9 primary schools; 1 sexual abuse child protection inquiry; 5 high schools; 2 sexual assaults; 1 rape; 2 abortions; my 18th birthday.” Also occasional homelessness and eight out of 10 on the Adverse Childhood Experiences scale. She escaped into the middle-class world of novel writing; in LOWBORN she returns, a refugee afflicted with survivor guilt, looking for memories and raging at how little has changed.’ — Guardian, Best Biography and Memoirs of 2019

‘A frank, personal story of Britain’s impoverished hidden millions.’ — Metro, Most Revealing Memoirs and Autobiographies of 2019

‘If there were any justice in the world, there would be a copy of Hudson’s powerful examination of her impoverished upbringing and why it continues to resonate under every politician’s Christmas tree.’  —iNews, Books of the Year 2019

‘In a society which often prefers to look in the opposite direction, Kerry Hudson's LOWBORN is an essential tour-de-force unravelling the realities of being born working class in Britain. Dubbed 'one of the most important books of the year' by the Guardian, LOWBORN is by turns an indictment of the UK's failing welfare state, and a humorous, heart-warming homage to the resilience of the human spirit. Read it, learn from it and pass it on.’ — Penguin, 10 of the Best VINTAGE Books of 2019

Peter James
Number 40 in The Bookseller’s list of the Top 50 highest earning authors of the year.

SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Tomasz Jedrowski
‘The overwhelming SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Tomasz Jedrowski, a young Polish author who writes rather miraculously in English, of which he has magisterial and frankly, Conradian command.’ — Sebastian Barry, Guardian, Best Books of the Year 2019

THE SCARFOLK ANNUAL by Richard Littler
‘This is the blackest of black humour.’ — Daily Mail, The Year’s Most Essential Books 2019

HIS BLOODY PROJECT by Graeme Macrae Burnet
‘If there is anything better than a historical novel, it has to be a historical crime novel, and Burnet proves himself a bit of a master of the genre with HIS BLOODY PROJECT… Multiple perspectives make this novel more twisty and turny than it already is, and although Burnet was an unexpected addition to the Man Booker Prize shortlist, this book more than earns its place. Masquerading as true crime – one of the most popular genres of the decade – it is also a work of strong literary merit, set in a community and a time that doesn’t get too much attention from authors who aren’t part of the Scottish literary scene. Burnet contributes to his own literary heritage with this novel, and honestly it also just a really cracking read.’ — Cultured Vultures, 10 Best Historical Novels of the 2010s

THE WILD REMEDY by Emma Mitchell
’A beautifully illustrated journey through the year, focussing on how nature and the outdoors can help our mental well being. Written with wisdom and kindness, and centred on Emma Mitchell’s own experiences, this is for anyone who loves learning more about the world around us, and for those who seek a way to help an unquiet mind. This book is a joy to own, and I cannot think of anyone whose life would not be a better place for reading it.’ — Joanna Cannon, Waterstones, Top 5 Reads of 2019

SHADOWPLAY by Joseph O’Connor
‘SHADOWPLAY is an absolutely magnificent book. It's not just a portrait of Bram Stoker, but a novel of the here and now. This is one of the best books of the year, anywhere.’ – Column McCann, The Irish Independent, Books of the Year

‘SHADOWPLAY has an extraordinary sense of the period and, using shifting scenes and changing perspectives, displays a brilliant ear for tone and nuance, and a wonderful talent for evoking and creating drama.’ – Sebastian Barry, Irish Independent, Books of the Year

‘A book inspiring deepest gratitude and admiration was Joseph O’Connor’s SHADOWPLAY, whose immaculate sentences were engines of the sometimes strange inner and outer reality of Bram Stoker and Henry Irving.’ — Sebastian Barry, Guardian, Best Books of the Year 2019

‘Resurrecting Victorian theatre in all its gaudy wizardry, this novel throws the limelight on three figures: Ellen Terry, the best-loved actress of the age; Henry Irving, its charismatic actor-impresario; and Bram Stoker, friend of both and author of the vampire classic Dracula. O’Connor’s panache and subtlety wonderfully match the gusto and creative finesse of the High Victorian world he dazzlingly evokes.’ – The Sunday Times, Best Novels of the Year 

‘Joseph O’Connor’s depiction of the theatre world of late 19th-century London in SHADOWPLAY is atmospheric and evocative, while he also manages to explore with verve, humour and acuity the public role and inner turmoil of the intriguing Bram Stoker.’ — Diarmaid Ferriter, The Irish Times, Books of the Year 2019

‘SHADOWPLAY by Joseph O’Connor was a glorious romp through Victorian London in the excellent company of Bram Stoker, Ellen Terry, Sir Henry Irving and the Lyceum Theatre. I believed every word of this fictionalised account of their relationship.’ — Liz Nugent, The Irish Times, Books of the Year 2019

‘I thoroughly enjoyed Joseph O’Connor’s SHADOWPLAY, which offers a dramatic and sensual insight into the lives of Bram Stoker and Henry Irving when they were working alongside each other at the Lyceum Theatre in 1870s London. O’Connor inhabits his characters with all the intensity of a method actor, re-creating an extraordinary world of creativity and self-doubt.’ — John Boyne, The Irish Times, Books of the Year 2019

‘GHOST LIGHT, Joseph O’Connor’s exquisite reimagining of Synge’s love affair with Molly Allgood, did not get the recognition it deserved. Not so SHADOWPLAY, his brilliant portrayal of Bram Stoker’s intense relationships with Henry Irving and Ellen Terry, a witty, wry, astute and tender delight.’ — Martin Doyle, The Irish Times, Books of the Year 2019

‘Now on the shortlist for the Costa Fiction Book of the Year, SHADOWPLAY is a fabulous, atmospheric jaunt back in time to Victorian London's West End, when Bram finds new inspiration and we watch as the immortal Dracula begins to take shape. An unmissable, colourful read about love, performance and creativity, you will practically be able to smell the greasepaint.’ — Penguin, 10 of the Best VINTAGE Books of 2019

‘It’s a book that totally swept me away to that lovely Victorian time in London, moonlight and fog – the atmosphere of it. He paints the canvas so well. You’re with Bram Stoker in the attic of the Lyceum Theatre where he was writing Dracula surrounded by all these ghost stories and the monstrous ego of Sir Henry Irving. Bram must have used Irving as inspiration for Dracula – he comes across as a really insecure monster in the book. It has comical flourishes as well because Oscar Wilde makes a cameo, which is very funny. You have some crazy tantrums by actors. It’s a bit like MOULIN ROUGE meets DRACULA. I absolutely loved it.’ — Oliver Callan, Irish Examiner, Well Known Figures Tell Us About Their Favourite Books of 2019

THE ’D’ MONOLOGUES by Kaite O’Reilly
Welsh Books – The Best of 2019 in Wales Arts Review

BOOKS TO READ IN 2020

ALLIGATOR & OTHER STORIES by Dima Alzayat
‘This rich short story collection exploring gender, identity, family and inheritance packs an emotional punch. Often told through the lens of everyday scenarios, the stories evoke displacement in a variety of ways: as a Syrian, as an Arab, as an immigrant and as a woman. While each story is different, they’re underpinned by experiencing “otherness”.’ — Cosmopolitan, 49 New Books by Black and POC Authors You’ll Be Reading in 2020

LOVE IN COLOUR: MYTHICAL TALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, RETOLD by Bolu Babalola
‘In these 18 stories, writer and columnist Bolu Babalola retells love stories with a twist: she (thankfully) modernises the stories by removing sexism, racism and violence from these tales. Spanning Nigerian folktales, Greek myths to ancient tales from South Asia, these tales of romance and desire move across perspectives, continents and genre from the historic to current.’ — Cosmopolitan, 49 New Books by Black and POC Authors You’ll Be Reading in 2020

THE SWALLOWED MAN by Edward Carey
‘Edward Carey’s LITTLE (about the Life of Madame Tussaud) was a bit of a hit. This new one imagines the experiences of Pinocchio’s father, Geppetto, during the years he spent trapped in the belly of a shark.’ — The Times, Best Books of 2020

SWIMMING IN THE DARK by Tomasz Jedrowski
‘Imagine CALL ME BY YOUR NAME set in Communist Poland and you'll get a sense of Jedrowski's moving debut about a consuming love affair amidst a country being torn apart.’ — The Oprah Magazine, 31 LGBTQ Books That'll Change the Literary Landscape in 2020

THE LAST HUNT by Deon Meyer
‘The indefatigable detective duo of Benny Griessel and Vaughn Cupido has returned in this latest blockbuster adventure from Deon Meyer… You’ll enjoy the suspense and thrills of this runaway train of a mystery.’ — CrimeReads, Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2020

BOBBY MARCH WILL LIVE FOREVER by Alan Parks
Scottish Book Trust, 30 Scottish novels to look out for in 2020

ANTICIPATED TITLES OF 2019

We’re delighted to have so many exciting Blake Friedmann titles published in 2019 – many of these have already been recognised as books to look out for, so here’s a taster of what’s being said …

MANDALAY: Recipes and Tales from a Burmese Kitchen by MiMi Aye (Bloomsbury Absolute, June)

‘June sees the launch of MANDALAY, a new book by MiMi Aye featuring nearly 100 simple Burmese recipes – from the national dish of mohinga (a fish chowder with rice noodles and lemongrass, traditionally served at breakfast) to lahpet thoke, a classic Burmese salad of pickled green tea leaves.’ — Olive Magazine, The 2019 Foodie Trend Report

‘Burmese food is set to become more popular with the publication of Mimi Aye’s MANDALAY.’ — Evening Standard, Veganuary 2019

‘Compared with its Thai neighbour, Burmese food is relatively unknown in the UK. That’s about to change, thanks to MANDALAY: Recipes and Tales from a Burmese Kitchen, a sumptuous cookbook by MiMi Aye, published by Bloomsbury in June.’ — The Times, The Biggest Food Trends of 2019

LOWBORN: Growing Up, Getting Away and Returning to Britain’s Poorest Towns by Kerry Hudson (Chatto & Windus, May)

LOWBORN will be a Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4

‘Kerry Hudson looks back at her impoverished childhood, and travels around Britain asking what being poor means today.’ — The Guardian, 2019 in Books: What You’ll Be Reading This Year

‘Kerry Hudson’s memoir LOWBORN: Growing Up, Getting Away and Returning to Britain’s Poorest Towns… arrive[s] with a sense of urgency.’ — New Statesman, Back to the Future: What to Read in 2019

'Powerful and moving... An emotional and important read.' — iNews, 10 Best Books to Read in 2019

THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL by Peter James (Stage Production)

Peter James’s THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL has now been adapted for stage, starring BAFTA nominated actor and 2017 winner of BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing Joe McFadden as Ollie Harcourt, alongside Rita Simons (who played Roxy Mitchell in EastEnders) as Caro. The chilling sequel, THE SECRET OF COLD HILL, will be published in hardback by Pan Macmillan in October 2019.

See more about the tour schedule for THE HOUSE ON COLD HILL here.

‘There is an argument to be made that Peter James should have been on our “people who have had a great 2018” list. Two books out, including one to add to his famed Roy Grace series, Peter has certainly been busy in the past 12 months. This year is sure to be no different as the HOUSE ON COLD HILL show, based on his 2015 novel, goes on tour. While Peter may not be part of the show itself there is no doubt that the touring production will shine a further light on the book and the success or failure of the tour will affect him hugely. That is why he makes this list.’ — The Argus, Five Sussex Stars Who Will Have a Great 2019

SHADOWPLAY by Joseph O’Connor (Harvill Secker, June)

‘Fans of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, meanwhile, will be keen to get hold of Joseph O’Connor’s SHADOWPLAY which follows Stoker as he wanders the fog-bound streets of Victorian London.’ — Irish Times, Books to Look Forward to in 2019

SAFE edited by Derek Owusu (Trapeze, March)
‘In an impressive roster of contributors, journalist Musa Okwonga’s chapter “The Good Bisexual” is a long overdue – and delicate – insight into the challenges black bisexual men face, from queer puberty, the double burden of racism and homophobia, homophobic harassment in the workplace, and ultimately, self-acceptance. A refreshing insight, given that black, bi men’s experiences are routinely rendered invisible.’ — Dazed, 11 New LQBTQ Books to Read in 2019

EAT IT ANYWAY by Eve Simmons and Laura Dennison (Mitchell Beazley, January)

‘In EAT IT ANYWAY, journalists Simmons and Dennison – founders of the website Not Plant Based – aim to dispel dietary myths and help others, who like them, have suffered from eating disorders, to rediscover their love of food.’ — The Irish Independent, The 72 Books We’ll Be Talking About in the First Half of 2019

THE CATALOGUE OF SHIPWRECKED BOOKS: Christopher Columbus, His Son, and the Quest to Build the World’s Greatest Library by Edward Wilson-Lee (Scribner, March)

‘This isn’t only a biography of Christopher Columbus and his son Hernando; it’s also a paean to the family library, which at its peak contained 20,000 printed materials, including music and images, obsessively collected from all over Europe.’ – Publishers Weekly, ‘Most Anticipated Books of Spring 2019’

And here’s a reminder of the Blake Friedmann titles and authors mentioned in Best of 2018 lists.

A TASTE OF BURMA: MIMI AYE’S COOKBOOK MANDALAY ACQUIRED BY ABSOLUTE PRESS

World rights (all languages) have been snapped up by Jon Croft, Publisher at Absolute Press for Burmese home cook and food writer MiMi Aye’s delectable new book MANDALAY: BURMESE FOOD & BEYOND from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann Agency.

Set to be released in June 2019, MANDALAY offers a joyful celebration of the little-known cuisine of Burma, a.k.a. Myanmar, featuring over 100 simple but authentic recipes revealing the secrets of the Burmese kitchen. Full of dazzling dishes – from Burma’s national dish of mohinga, a fish chowder with rice noodles and lemongrass traditionally served at breakfast, to steamed fish in banana leaf, and lahpet thohk, a classic Burmese salad of pickled green tea – the book will demystify the unique flavours of Burma.

A passionate advocate for Burmese food, MiMi’s recipes will be interspersed with stories about Burmese culture and traditions, eating and serving customs, as well as typical menus and a glossary of ingredients and alternatives found closer to home – a must-read for everyone interested in Asian cuisine and culture.

MiMi Aye said, “Located in Southeast Asia, between Bangladesh and Thailand and near India and China, Burma’s cuisine is influenced by these neighbours, but also combines techniques and ingredients with flavours of its own to make something subtle, delicious and unique. I’m delighted to be sharing this multitude of flavours, scents, colours, and textures in my new book MANDALAY: BURMESE FOOD & BEYOND. We eat with all of our senses, and here we can indulge each and every one of them: the aroma from a bubbling pot of beef and lentil stew; the multi-coloured vision of a rainbow salad of carrots, potatoes, chillies and coriander; the sensation of rice noodles silky with a rich tomato and kaffir lime sauce; or the crunch of a handful of home-made paprika potato crisps.”

Jon Croft said, “I am thrilled that Absolute Press is to publish MiMi’s enchanting and accessible tour around the little-explored and delicious cuisine of Burma. MiMi is recognised as the go-to authority for Burmese food and the irresistible combination of wonderful family recipes coupled with her own personal stories brings Burma to life in all its culinary and cultural glory”.

MiMi’s first book NOODLE! 100 Great Recipes, a celebration of noodles and their versatility, was published by Absolute Press in 2014. In The Mail, Tom Parker-Bowles hailed it as ‘comprehensive, well written and fascinating’. Further recommended by The Telegraph, The Guardian, and Lonely Planet amongst others

About the author

British-born to Burmese parents, MiMi Aye has spent her whole life soaking up Burmese food, language, and culture through endless trips to see family and friends in Burma, as well as back at home. A passionate advocate for Burmese cuisine, she is the writer of www.meemalee.com, founder of supper club and community, Burmese Food and Beyond, and author of NOODLE! 100 Great Recipes (Absolute Press). MiMi has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Radio 4’s Food Programme, and BBC Two’s A Question of Taste, and her recipes have also appeared in METRO, The Evening Standard, Woman & Home and Red magazines.

She is featured as a chef on the Good Food Channel online, and her recipes have been featured on Channel 4

Follow MiMi on Twitter

Visit her Instagram