About vkeong

Need to contact me? Email me at

(Last update: 23 Aug 10) Hey! Thanks for wanting to know me better :)

I’m a 27-year old guy, grew up in Bukit Mertajam aka “Tua Shua Kha” in Hokkien. It is a small town on the mainland side of Penang.

There are two reasons why I started this blog: passion for good food (I live to eat!) and photography. 4 years ago, there weren’t many food blogs and MalaysiaBest was my favorite at that time. It was my biggest influence in starting my own food blog. After taking thousands of photos, I am now more interested in photography compared to hunting for food to be honest. So, sometimes I eat or travel just for the sake of taking photos. Except working hours, I am never without my camera.

I do realize that my writings are simple, straightforward and not as narrative like other food blogs you may find. Or simply put, my English is not great. My blogging style is based on how I would like to read a food blog – I just want to see how the foods look like, know the location, the price and most importantly the taste. Nothing more.

But recently, I have changed my style of writing to include some history about the food that I blog. Videos and more detailed information like operating hours, address and the GPS Coordinates are also being included. This is something you will definitely not see in my older posts. Last time, I would just snap the food, secretly snap a photo of the shop and then run away lol. Anyway, I feel this change is good for me as mingling with the people who prepare your food does give you a good feeling about the food you are going to eat. Sometimes, their stories would even touch you.

Now, about food blogging.. it is no secret that I used to do the so called “invited reviews”. I never really liked that term because it gives an impression I am doing this for a living or professionally when in fact I am doing it as a hobby. I used to even put up a page to let restaurant owners contact me for “invited reviews” because not many food bloggers get this type of invitation stuff at that time. It made me felt honored and such lah, syok sendiri.

But after doing this for a while I felt my integrity and direction in blogging is affected. This aside, I also noticed there is a faction of food bloggers that blogs for money and often ask for free meals from restaurants. In order to stop myself from being associated with these bloggers, I have stopped responding to restaurant owners’ invitation. I have always worked independently and I am very glad with my way because believe it or not, there is politic stuff going on among the factions of food bloggers.

So if you see a chubby and specky looking guy in Penang who carries a camera around, eats alone and snaps photos of the food before he starts eating, most probably that’s me!

Share
  • #1 written by lawrence
    about 10 months ago

    what camera u using n what lens u have? btw nice photos :)

    thanks for sharing.

    • #2 written by vkeong
      about 10 months ago

      I am using 5dmk2 + 24-105L

      thanks for your kind comment

    • #3 written by claudia
      about 10 months ago

      That’s a great combination, to travel and experience other countires food. As for eating/restaurants in Switzerland and Europe I recommend the restaurant directory MyTable.com (website and app). There you can search restaurants by price range, see the menu and read reviews. The app detects restaurants nearby and you can make you reservation directly online.

  • #4 written by Winyong
    about 10 months ago

    Try to taste the chee cheong fun in taman perindustrian bukit serdang under the big tree stall van is a good taste chee cheong fun

  • #5 written by Gary YAP
    about 10 months ago

    Dear VK

    Interesting work and I saved most of the GPS for my future reference. How bout Muar? Any goodies there?

    Bergds
    Gary YAP

    • #6 written by vkeong
      about 10 months ago

      Unfortunately I do not have the time to explore Muar yet.. maybe in future
      Thanks

  • #7 written by David Yap
    about 10 months ago

    Dear VK,

    I am running a steamboat restaurant at Kuala Lumpur. I would like to invite you to my restaurant to taste my special steamboat (which we use only charcoal – totally different from other steamboat restaurant).

    My address is as follows:-

    RESTORAN SUMI NABE STEAMBOAT
    H-0-6, M-AVENUE,
    NO. 1, JALAN 1/38A, SEGAMBUT BAHAGIA,
    51200 KUALA LUMPUR.

    Pls contact me (019-2265512) if you are not familiar with this area.

    Hope to hear from you soon.

    Thanks!

    Warmest Regards
    David Yap

  • #8 written by Anonymous
    about 10 months ago

    hai vkeong, l like your food blog and your simple
    comment and info. i just open a salted chicken 3 months ago, ” Yummy Salted Chicken ,’ in Malacca using Aust.
    salt to bake like the one in Ipoh. If you happen to visit Malacca Pls drop by or call 016-6657886, My address is
    53-L, Jln ong kim Wee, 75300 Melaka.
    Hope to hear from you soon.
    than you

  • #9 written by Hj
    about 9 months ago

    Consider restoran venny located right outside of Lowyat’s main entrance. IMHO their char koay teow taste very good. Of coz with extra spicy and cockles. I’m a fan of char koay teow but haven’t got the chance to travel, and of many places I tried. I have to say they serve the best. Again, it’s just my taste and my opinion

  • #10 written by Morelli
    about 9 months ago

    Dear VK,

    We love to invite you to our restaurant and to have your honest opinion about our food. We serve non-halal western and some asian food.

    Our address is Morelli’s Restaurant @ Bayu Angkasa Condominium Clubhouse, No 4, Jalan Medang Kapas, Bukit Bandaraya, Bangsar 59100, Kuala Lumpur.

    Please feel to contact me for direction 0123276761.

    Hope to have you in our restaurant.

  • #11 written by Barbara
    about 9 months ago

    Hello
    My name is Barbara Theron, I’m event manager for “The Week of Taste Malaysia 2012″. This event will take place from the 15th to the 21st of October 2012 in KL, Penang and Langkawi.

    Several themes are organized around this event: The Tables of Taste, The Workshops of Taste and the Lessons of Taste.

    1/ Tables of Taste is for restaurants offering high quality products and culinary innovation.
    2/ Workshops of Taste aims at professionals to promote their products through animations (wine tasting, cooking class…)
    3/ Lessons of Taste is a program in collaboration with the Taylors’ university to educate young people to the taste

    And on top of that, the Publika Trade Fair the 19, 20, 21 October 2012 (90 exhibitors, over 2000 visitors)

    The Week of Taste is a fantastic event on which the food industry can rely to communicate and attract new customers.

    Our website is online, please visit http://www.theweekoftaste.com.my and our Facebook page “the week of taste Malaysia 2012” to reach a wide audience and multiply the communication around this event.

    Please note that the press conference will take place the 25th of September at Publika Solaris Dutamas.

    I rely on you to spread the information and be present at the press conference.

    Do not hesitate to contact us if you need more information.
    I’m looking forward to hear from you soon.

    Best Regards,

    Ms Barbara THERON
    Event Manager – The Week of Taste Malaysia 2012

  • #12 written by Alfred Smith
    about 8 months ago

    Hi,

    This is Alfred, I went through your site: vkeong.com while surfing in Google, I am very much impressed with your site’s unique information.

    I work as a content writer in many travel communities and love the opportunity to guest post for your readers. I would like to give you a unique article on any travel related theme. No duplication or copying of the article is done. I assure you that the article will be published only on your site.

    The best part is I won’t be charging you a penny, but in return all I need is just one link within the article.

    Looking forward for a positive reply.

    Yours truly ,

    Alfred

  • #13 written by Xingkai Ong
    about 8 months ago

    Hi, It’s me who introduced you to munakata years back.

    I just notice last month that the restaurant is no longer in Life Center, any idea where it went?

  • #15 written by Aznor Azizul
    about 7 months ago

    Dear admin,

    I am writing on behalf of my management Kunang Kunang Restaurant to
    introduced you to our restaurant as one of the recommended event venue
    either for weddings, corporate functions, dinner and many more. This
    restaurant designed with the garden concept in mind, so that the
    customers will feel the natural ambiance while dining and hanging with
    their friends. Fresh air and unique setting make Kunang Kunang
    Restaurant a perfect place to host many kind of events from corporate
    functions, annual dinner to family gathering and parties. Our
    restaurant are currently available to accommodate 250 persons at one
    time.. if you need anymore inquiries you can email directly and I will
    sent out proposal regarding our restaurant as the selection of venues
    which you can trust..

  • #16 written by Sandy
    about 6 months ago

    Hi there,
    I am looking for a western food caterer that caters non-halal food. Do you know of any good ones in town? Thanks

  • #17 written by Conrad Goh
    about 5 months ago

    Dear vkeong ,
    Good day, my name is Conrad Goh, I’m an intern student from Asia Media Bhd. I’m currently doing a food blog project. I would like to promote your food blog contents such as food pictures and information regarding to the delicious food and interesting places that was posted in your blog upon your permission. I hope you would grant us permission to promote your content in our transit TV on rapid kl & JB buses, we have about 1500 buses and each buses consist of 2 LCD screens where we promote your blog and your video. This is will be a contra basis deal.
    We are a media provider, offering high-quality infotainment and targeted advertising through the use of digital electronic displays installed in various outdoor premises. Recognised as the ‘Largest Transit-TV Network’ in Malaysia, as awarded by The Malaysia Book of Records. Asia Media has 3,993 LCD screens installed in 1,800 buses travelling in the market centric hubs of Klang Valley and Johor Bahru.
    I’m looking forward to your reply. Here is my email: azlan.lax@gmail.com.
    For more information about us, visit us at http://www.asiamedia.net.my/.

    Best Regards,
    Conrad Goh
    Intern

  • #18 written by Louis
    about 5 months ago

    Best Tilapia in Puchong Bandar Puteri
    Must try :-

    Restoran Yu ShiFu (魚師傅清蒸金鳳魚)
    G-22, Jalan Puteri 4/9,
    Bandar Puteri,
    47100 Puchong, Selangor.

    P/s: Nearby Puteri Mart, new shop lot area.

  • #19 written by Jeannie
    about 4 months ago

    Nice blog and I love the photos.. :)

  • #20 written by ichu
    about 4 months ago

    Hi Vk,

    I like your blog very much.
    It is simple, usefull and very honest.

  • #21 written by lenny
    about 3 months ago

    inspiring foodblog indeed! found ur blog when googling halal eateries in Europe. unfortunately not many halal restaurants that i can find. would be a plus if you include halal eating spots from around the world! will recommend ur blog to my traveller-friends.

  • #22 written by J.J.
    about 3 months ago

    Hi VK!
    Sent you an email yesterday and I look forward to having your response soon.
    TQ.

  • #23 written by Jeff
    about 3 months ago

    Hi VK,
    Do you know anywhere in Singapore serve good Hakka salted chicken?

    Rgds,

  • #25 written by MyFoodBlog
    about 2 months ago

    With an Alexa ranking of 252,000, I see you are doing very well indeed with your food blog. Kudos for someone at your age of 27, it’s really fantastic.
    MyFoodBlog´s last [type] ..Chinese Roast Pork (Siu Yuk)

  • #26 written by foong
    about 2 months ago

    Hi vkeong.. how do i find tg spard nice food…

  • #27 written by Marcus Cheong
    about 2 months ago

    Dear VKeong,
    My restaurant Koufu Trendy Chinese Cuisine is opening soon in this June in One City USJ25, Subang Jaya, Selangor. It main signature dish is Fook Chow Red Wine Chicken Mee Sua and also the homemade-handmade noodle from Sitiawan. The red wine mee sua cooked my my mother in law and is really taste good compare to outside restaurant and the noodle is really different from others as the noodle business started since 1977. I read your blog knowing you stop responding to invitation and I really don’t know what to do. I just need your opinion on how can you help me on my restaurant launching. Really wish you will reply my message. Thanks… Marcus

  • #28 written by Tigerlee
    about 1 month ago

    Just to share with u, Kuantan recently got a nice burger bakar!!

  • #29 written by max (CLP)
    about 3 weeks ago

    if you happen to drop by prai again, do visit wai sek kai lane again. there is 1 stall selling economy fried mee hoon,mee,koay teow. the stall had started since 1977. simple yet nice.

  • #30 written by john lim
    about 2 weeks ago

    hi vk,
    its a penang prawn mee speacialist just opening beside the sunway university,same row with subway. you may try it

  • #31 written by James Tan
    about 1 week ago

    Hi VKeong,
    Good day ! I am a big fan of your blog.

    I am a veteran in F&B, having worked in hotels, and owning catering and restaurant business for 30 years. My speciality is Western cuisine. I recently opened a Western cuisine restaurant at The One Terrace Plus, Bayan Baru (diagonally opposite D’Piazza) focusing on quality food @ affordable prices.

    I know you mentioned that you no longer entertain invitations but it will be my pleasure to have you pay a visit to my restaurant to try out the various specialties and write a review. If your time permits, we can arrange a time so that we can meet up at my restaurant..

    My restaurant is called “JT Western Station” and is located at 1-1-11, Tingkat Mahsuri 5, The One Terrace Plus.

    Looking forward to hear from you ! Thank you !

    James Tan
    019 662 1673
    Facebook : JT Western Station
    Twitter : @JTwesternfood

1 ... 4 5 6

CommentLuv badge