Email Interview with Motormouth From Ipoh
This week, we have an interview with Motormouth From Ipoh. Truely showing a knack for writing and the passion for food, please enjoy the interview as well as the mouth watering photos.
1. Can you give us an introduction of yourself, when and how did you start out and what made you love food so much to start a blog about it?
First and foremost, thanks to Feedmelah.com for granting this golden opportunity to blabber about myself. Hahaha… It’s an honour, really. I’m a guy in mid-20’s, born, bred, studied and currently working in Ipoh. Hence the moniker, Motormouth FROM Ipoh. Though some readers might have mistakenly thought I’m living in KL for the various posts on KL food, as well as posts from my travels all around Malaysia, and a couple of international destinations.
I started blogging on March 3rd, 2008. Officially, my blog is about one year of age, and I kind of surprised myself that I’m still blogging with much gusto, even after a year. Ask any Malaysians what Ipoh’s famous for, and I guarantee 99% of the time, the words hawker food, or street food will pop up in the conversation. Which naturally explained my love for food, be it street fare, or posh restaurant cuisines. On top of that, I studied in Penang for a good 4 years, hence it’s a no-brainer why I love street food so much.
As for the reason that spurred my interest in blogging, I really have to credit a few food bloggers in the blogosphere for this one. First and foremost, I still remember back in February of 2008, I was busy surfing the net for restaurant reviews, as I was searching for any particularly good cafe/restaurant in KL. And I was rather amazed at the sheer amount of sheer of food blogs from Malaysia, which are not only informative, but very, very professionally-written as well. At that moment I was in awe, and curiosity got the better of me, so I opened up a blogger account, and the rest, as they say, was history.
2. What do you believe is the key factor of enticing people to your site?
Enticing people to my site? Wow, seriously I don’t think I’ve reached that level yet. Truth be told, when I started blogging, I had no idea how to market my blog, or blog for the masses, as some would say. Even up until now, it’s more like a personal blog than a commercialized food portal, as I feel that documenting my food hunts, and travelogues peppered with more humour than serious notes seems more beneficial and personal in the long run. Why? Because in 5 or 10 years from now, I’d like to read back what I wrote, rather than merely reading restaurant reviews. More like a journal, than anything else.
But one pulling factor might have been the frequency I’m blogging, as even some had complained before that I’m posting faster than they’re able to catch up! On average, about a post every 2-3 days. But since I’m blessed with internet connection at work and at home, blogging seems to be not a problem at all. And the fact that my job requires me to travel most of the time, I’m able to write about food from other towns in Perak, some obscure ones, and food from neighbouring states.
Recently I’ve just finished blogging on my trip to Hanoi, a saga spanning 10 chapters (I’m long-winded, I know), and realised that the posts managed to ignite and renew my interest in travelling to Vietnam. http://j2kfm.blogspot.com/2009/03/motormouth-survived-hanoi-turns-one-yay.html
3. What is your favourite food of all time?
This is a bit tough, as some of my friends had the audacity (hehe) to label me as a ‘tong sampah’, or rubbish bin. LOL. I prefer to be with stronger and pungent flavours, the spicier the better. One notable favourite of mine, and most readers would have realised by now, is the ‘petai’ or stink beans. Cooked with spicy and sour sambal, and prawns or squids, the crunchy texture paired with the mouth-waterng sambal gravy, is absolutely delicious. But of course, there are more detractors than fans, given the stinky nature of the then stink beans.
Another favourite of mine is the dry curry noodles commonly found in Ipoh. I like it so much O dedicated a few posts detailing all of the curry noodles I’ve devoured over the course of my food hunts. Feel free to visit this link http://j2kfm.blogspot.com/search/label/Curry%20Mee for all the curry noodles in Ipoh I’ve tried and tested. Not ALL, but most.
4.What is your favourite restaurant of all time?
Ouch. This one’s an even tougher nut! There are countless favourites of mine, in and around Ipoh, as well as those in other states. No comments, but I’m really digging Japanese restaurants, American diners, as well as Thai restaurants.
5. Currently, what is the one tip about food blogging you would give to new food bloggers?
One tip only ah? OK, it has to be originality. Don’t blindly follow what others did, or are doing. Write in your own style, snap glorious food pics with your DSLR, point-and-shoot camera or even a camera handphone. I’ve been using my handphone as my main tool for blogging since day one, right until 2 months ago when I finally purchased a digital camera. Some wits and charisma may be helping, as food blogs are different from food reviews in the papers and magazines. If you’re writing like a professional rather than from a personal point of view, that may be advantageous if you’re working for the media, but in your own blog, you may slowly lose your own character and charm. That’s my 2 cents’ worth, anyway.
6. What do you think about the food culture we currently have in Malaysia?
It’s indeed flourishing. No doubt, with so many new restaurants, cafes and hawker stalls sprouting everywhere, it’s really hard (but fun) to discover them all. Plus the existence of various food portals documenting food reviews on the internet, certainly this may be fruitful in the long run to promote Malaysian food to the world. I can forsee more and more international chains coming over to our shore, just like the ‘invasion’ of JCo Donuts, Krispy Kreme, and Tony Roma’s.
7. Your final thoughts about food you’d like to share with the Feedmelah.com readers?
Kudos to the clever minds who came up with the Kopitiam concept, Old Town White Coffee, with more than 100 outlets opened in Malaysia. Promoting simple, homely fare to the masses, and catering to not only local tastebuds but international ones as well. We really need to promote local cuisines, before international flavours overwhelm the smaller scale hawker fares. Do share with others your discoveries of new eateries, no matter the outlet has potential or not. Good things are meant to be shared, after all.
With that, I thank Feedmelah.com for this interview.
Related posts:
Email Interview with Neko Hime Blogs
Email Interview with Sloppy Chic
Tags: email interview, Ipoh, motormouth
Yes, do give Dengkil a shot, the food is really good, and if...
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Kudos, Motormouth! Am proud of you, hehe… same kampung as you mah! Keep the posts coming fast & furious man!
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Here to support you!
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Congrates, J2kfm…
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
What a nice interview
Thanks for the tip of food blogging!
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
The one and only Motormouth certainly does it again. Congrats.
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 pm
very well said!congrats ya..:)
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Well done!
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 am
motormouth proud of perakian blogger ^^
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Whoo!
May 25th, 2009 at 4:13 am
Very well done with the emailed interview J. You deserved a lot of credits for exposing Ipoh more.
May 25th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Wow Motormouth, you are really popular!