Yan-Kit So Award

 

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2025 YAN-KIT SO MEMORIAL AWARD FOR FOOD WRITERS ON ASIA 

APPLICATIONS CLOSE AT 12 NOON ON 26TH SEPTEMBER 2025

Secure a bursary of up to £3000 to undertake a research trip to Asia, to support the production of your first cookbook.

 

For enquires and to discuss possible applications, contact OCC (occ@oxfordculturalcollective.com)

 

This is your opportunity to fulfil a dream to research, travel and write an original work about food and food culture from any corner of Asia – Iran to Japan, Indonesia to the Central Asian Republics.

The Yan-Kit So Memorial Award for Food Writers on Asia is inspired by the work of Yan-Kit So (1933-2001), one of Britain’s leading authorities on Chinese cuisine.  A passionate promoter of Asian food, her first book The Classic Chinese Cookbook (1984) went on to win prestigious awards such as the André Simon Book Award and the Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award.  Her seminal work Classical Food of China (1992) made a major contribution towards the understanding of Chinese regional food culture.

The Award is given as a bursary, which is taken from funds raised by a group of volunteers in Yan-Kit’s memory.

The aim of the award is to enable an emerging writer to undertake a research trip to Asia, to support the production of a book that will enhance our understanding and appreciation of Asian food culture.  This original work should non-fiction book (could be a cookbook), on any aspect of Asian food culture, written in English.

The winning applicant is expected to lead the effort to secure a publishing contract for their proposed book. The YKS committee and OCC Trust will offer advice, guidance and support, but neither bears any responsibility for helping the winning applicant secure a publishing contract. While securing such a contract is the primary objective, we accept that it will not be possible for every winning applicant to publish a book. In such circumstances, the winning applicant must be willing to deliver a substantial piece of written work, intended for publication, within 36 months of completing the trip, with the focus agreed by the YKS committee.

The maximum bursary available is £3000. The sum awarded may vary depending on the scale of the winning project. The applicant must currently reside in the UK and must not have already published a cookery book.

 

The Judges

 

The Award is offered every two years, the next in 2025. The current members of the judging panel for the Yan-Kit So Memorial Award for Food Writers on Asia are:

• Fuchsia Dunlop, cook, food writer and broadcaster;
• Chetna Makan, cookbook author, educator and broadcaster;
• Norman Musa, cookbook author, educator and culinary ambassador;
• Donald Sloan, Chair of The Oxford Cultural Collective.
• Paul Bloomfield, caterer and Patron of the Oxford Cultural Collective.

 

Your application

 

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT BUDGET AND ITINERARY FORM

For enquires and to discuss possible applications, contact the OCC team (occ@oxfordculturalcollective.com).

In your application, submitted online, you are required to include:

• Your contact details
• Project title
• Summary of project proposal (maximum 150 words).
• Full details of project proposal (maximum 1000 words) – your summary version of a book proposal.
• A short film recording, in which you outline your motivation, skills and experience (maximum 4 minutes).
• Provisional budget and timetable for your project, using standard template
• Contact details for two referees

 

The Award is jointly administered by Betty Yao MBE and Freya Aitken-Turff.   The Award was launched in 2008 stemming from an original idea by Betty Yao to commemorate the life and work of her friend Yan-Kit So through her twin passions for food and travel. The Award’s founding Patron is David Thompson, distinguished chef, writer and restaurateur.

 

To learn more about the work of Ishita DasGuspta, winner of the 2023 award, follow this link. 

 

The award is offered every two years. Previous winners:

2021 Maria Garbett-Lucero, food of the Philippines

2019 Julie Kleeman, Tibetan cuisine

2017 Samar Khatiwala, Gujrati food

2015 Celia Plender, Regional Japanese Cuisine

2013 Mirabelle Dominé-Walley, Vegetarian Food in Vietnam

 

The Yan-Kit So Memorial Award for Food Writers on Asia is sustained by philanthropic donations from those with an interest in promoting Asian food culture. To discuss making a donation please contact Donald Sloan (dsloan@oxfordculturalcollective.com).

All donations are made to The Oxford Cultural Collective Trust, which has charitable status (registered charity 1191568).  Please email dsloan@oxfordculturalcollective.com for more information. 

 

THE SMALL PRINT (terms and conditions):

• The award is only open to UK residents over the age of 18.
• Those who have already published a cookbook or food-focused non-fiction book are not eligible to enter.
• The proposal must be the work of a single author.
• The focus of the proposal must fall within the geographical area of Asia.
• The proposal can be for a cookbook or food or drink-focused non-fiction book, to be published in English.
• An outline budget must be submitted as part of each application. The OCC Trust maintains the right to challenge and revise outline budgets, in consultation with the winning applicant.
• If the travel budget is over the bursary maximum of £3000 the applicant must agree to fund the outstanding amount.
• The OCC Trust will work with the winning applicant to refine and adapt their project proposal, and to facilitate its implementation, so as to achieve positive outcomes.
• Neither the Yan-Kit So Memorial Award committee nor the Oxford Cultural Collective bears responsibility for seeking or negotiating any resulting publishing contract that might arise from the proposal.
• The OCC Trust must be notified of any resulting publications and if in print form, be supplied with two complimentary copies.
• The winner must complete his/her travel within 12 months of winning the award and provide feedback on progress within 6 months of taking their trip.
• If no book deal is secured, the winning applicant must prepare an article for publication online, within 36 months of having been granted their bursary.
• The winning applicant will be required to complete a reflective review of their experience of engaging in their project, which will be placed in the public domain. The format of this review will be agreed in advance with the OCC Trust (e.g., could be written report, filmed diary, oral presentation).
• If the judges conclude there is no entry of sufficient merit then they may abstain from making an Award.