First and foremost, thank you for your support through 2014.
The beginning of a new year is always a good time to look back at where we've been, so that we have a better idea about which way we will be going. What should I keep doing? What to stop doing and what new ventures should I get into?
1. Best Singapore Food Blog 2014
May I take this opportunity to thank readers for supporting Johor Kaki - your encouragement keeps me going in this journey. (I know I am repeating myself here but I cannot thank you enough. Without readers, a blog is nothing much.)
My gratitude too to the hardworking hawkers and restaurateurs, without whom there is no Johor Kaki blog.
Singapore Minister Sim Ann in her speech cited Johor Kaki as an example of ethical and responsible blogging. One of the judges commented that Johor Kaki blog is "full of live and the human touch."
I strive to do my utmost to continue Johor Kaki with these principles firmly in mind.
2. Malaysia NTV 7 Foodie Blogger Series 2
I am grateful for the opportunity to co-host the 30-minute show with award winning Malaysian artiste Ernest Chong to share with Malaysians about Johor hawker food. This was the second time I am co-hosting the Johor Bahru episode of the Foodie Blogger series. The first was in 2013 with another award winning artiste Coby Chong 庄可比.
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3. Discovering Penang
This was my first trip to Penang as a food blogger. As I was in this food paradise for only a week, I could only come up with a list that is not the 10 best food in Penang ;-p Hope to be back in Penang to discover more of this top foodie destination.
4. Discovering Cebu, Philippines
I was in Cebu Philippines twice this year and was fascinated with the food culture there. There is so much more to discover and to share about the food, people and places here. I wish I could be there for long enough to come up with a comprehensive guide to Cebu's unique food. That will help raise awareness of Cebu food and through that I hope to help a little to improve the livelihood of Cebu's hawkers.
5. Discovering New York City
I explored the truly global cuisine of the megapolis of New York City. I enjoyed a two month discovery journey to create this guide to the diverse foods that represent this high voltage electric City. This guide is a work in progress and I shall be back to discover more about this amazing foodie haven.
6. Best Jay Bee (Johor Bahru) Food Find of the Year
After nearly 1,000 food trips, my favourite method of food hunt is still to pound the pavement and use my eyes, ears and nose to spot good food, and to confirm it with my taste buds. This is extremely inefficient and time consuming, not to mention bodily exhausting. But once again, it produced the best result in food finding.
This year, my best hawker find in JB is Taiping Fish Porridge stall in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah.
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7. Johor Kaki is 3 Years Old!
From a newborn on 20 Dec 2011, in the blink of an eye Johor Kaki is now a 3 year old toddler. Wide eyed, ever more curious, still hungry, playful, even naughty. Eager to explore and learn, love life and grateful for the love received.
Here are snapshots of where Johor Kaki is today, so I can look back in wonder in the future where I passed in my blogging journey before.
As 1 Jan 2015
Not yet 200 million views but getting there at 195 million ;-D
As at 1 Jan 2015
47,000+ Facebook fans. My engagement rate needs to improve by miles ;-p I certainly need to improve my headline writing skills.
As at 1 Jan 2015
31,000+ members on Johor Sedap Facebook Group. I am proud of this Group which is active and engaged (much more so than Johor Kaki FB page ;-p ).
Not yet 1,000 blog posts on this Johor Kaki blog but getting there at 997 posts.
Reminder to self as a blogger.
Follow your passion and let all other things follow.
Where Johor Kaki was in 2013.
Back to Johor Kaki homepage.
Johor Kaki with the founder of Shui Kee herbal soups 水记炖品 in Batu Pahat
Johor Kaki's first post of 2014 is not a food review, but a review of Johor Kaki itself.
I decided to do this top 10 moments list on impulse, late in the afternoon of 1 Jan 2014.
The previous year had passed breathtakingly fast. Johor Kaki has many things to be thankful for but I felt that I don't have the time for the self indulgence of savouring the year's top moments. There are still so many more food and hawkers stories waiting to be written.
But, when I wanted to set my bearings on where Johor Kaki is going in 2014, I realised that I need to think deeper about where I had been so far.
It is timely to pause and take stock of what Johor Kaki is about.
The events that stuck in my mind are those that have the most impact towards achieving my vision for Johor hawkers and Johor food.
Here are my 10 top moments, if you will bear with my self indulgence.
1. Foodie Blogger TV Series
Click on the photo to view the Johor episode of "Foodie Blogger" series 1
In February 2013, the premiere episode of the NTV7 series "Foodie Blogger" featuring Johor was televised across the country. It was an honour to be on the programme with award winning artiste, Coby Chong 庄可比. I found Coby a talented, lovely and genuine person. The series was a success and work on the second series is now underway. I am honoured to be involved again in the Johor episode of the second series of "Foodie Blogger".
2. Best Malaysia Food Blog Award
In Mar 2013, Johor Kaki was named the Best Food Blog at the Malaysia International Travel Bloggers Conference and Awards (MITBCA) organised by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism. I am happy because this award helped raised the profile of Johor food in Malaysia. I was heartened that during the voting, Johor foodies rallied behind Johor Kaki in social media. I feel the greater consciousness of our foodie community in Johor was an important benefit of this event.
3. Best Singapore Food Blog Award
In July 2013, Johor Kaki was named the Best Food Blog in the Singapore Blog Awards competition organised by Singapore Press Holdings supported by Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information. I am glad that with this award, greater awareness of Johor food and hawkers reached it's nearest neighbour, just across the Causeway.
4. Malaysian Street Food Seminar
Sharing about Johor street food at seminar in Kuala Lumpur.
In September 2013, Johor Kaki was invited to be a panellist at the seminar on Malaysian Street Food organised by Management and Science University. It's great to be able to share about Johor food with a Kuala Lumpur audience together with TV personality/ celebrity Chef Sufiz, TV personality/ AFC host of food show "Best in the World" Razif Hashim and Mansor Omar, Senior Director of Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority.
5. Discovering Johor Small Towns through Food
Johor Kaki has taken me to the quaint, small towns of Johor, in search of good food and our food heritage. This is the small town of Paloh, 30 km off the North-South Highway exit at Yong Peng. We were treated to robust old school Nanyang kopi and regaled with stories by the kopitiam boss, and that alone made the 45 minutes drive through the winding, undulating road one way, worth it. I am looking forward to many more such less travelled roads to explore.
6. Friendships with Chefs, Business Owners and Hawkers
With Gary, the passionate and flamboyant Chef and owner of Grill Bar Steakhouse
To me, writing about a restaurant or stall is never just about the food - a blog post is not a souped up menu card. I feel the story of the food, business and especially the story of the people involved is an important part of food writing. Through Johor Kaki, I enjoyed many special moments getting to know many chefs, business owners and hawkers.
7. Making New Foodie and Food Bloggie Friends
I've made many new friends among foodies from Johor, Singapore and also further afield. We come from all communities, all walks of life but bonded by the shared love of food. Not just food at the level of taste and flavour but also it's deeper meanings. Foodie bloggers, in particular, share a special bond.
8. Showing Overseas Visitors the Best of Johor Food
Johor Kaki with the team from V Publications (Hong Kong) at Restoran ZZ Sup Tulang
The privilege to show unique Johor food to like minded overseas foodies and media is a highlight of my year. Sometimes, I customise a food trail for the visitors based on their preferences or background. Other times, we just jump into the car and let our instincts and impulses take us on a trail of random discoveries and gastronomic adventure :D
9. Top Low Moment
Not every Johor Kaki moment was delicious and rosy. The lowest point was when my trusty old car was struck by a large container truck when I was at it's blind spot. The workshop in Singapore quoted me SGD3,000 to get me a new door. Fortunately, through the help of my friend Alex, he found me a workshop that got it fixed in JB for RM400 including a polish for the affected part :D
10. Every New Fan is a Bright Moment
Johor Kaki Facebook page has over 31,300+ fans as at 1 January 2014
A Johor Kaki fan is never just a number. Every fan is an individual that has put his or her trust in what Johor Kaki has set out to achieve. I am mindful of the heavy responsibility that that entails and am committed to honour the trust of Johor Kaki fans in the integrity of my food writings.
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