We recently had the pleasure of interviewing renowned food blogger Robyn Eckhardt with recognition to the experienced photographer David Hagerman over at EatingAsia
Robyn’s site was recently voted as one of the top 50 food blogs in the world, as voted by the Times Online.
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?
I’m an American who’s been living in Asia, off and on, for going on 14 years. In mid-2005 I and my husband (the blog’s photographer) moved to KL and started the blog. We’d long been the types to travel solely for food; he’s been photographing for years and I’ve been writing for years (albeit as an academic). We started the blog to document our explorations of KL’s marvelous hawker stalls and also as a way to force ourselves to practice our crafts.
2. Just like other food blogs, your site has been up for a long time and has gained quite a following. What do you think is the key factor to your success?
I’m not sure really. It may be that we’re different from most other blogs out there, in that we stick to street food/casual eateries and cover a wide swathe of Southeast Asia rather than sticking just to one place. We try to present not just food reviews (which I find really boring to write) but slices of life, bits of culinary culture and traditions, insights into the people and customs and cultures behind the foods we eat. Also – and I can say this because I’m not the photographer – the photos are pretty nice and go beyond close-ups of various dishes. I know from the comments that a fair number of readers don’t read at all – they just look at the pictures! Which is absolutely fine. We have no ‘formula’ — I post when I have time and when I feel like it, and I post about whatever I feel like writing on at that moment, on that day.
3. What is your favourite food of all time?
That is an absolutely impossible question to answer. Right now three things come to mind: bucatini al amatriciana, assam laksa, and the soft pink guavas you can get in southern Vietnam at certain times of the year.
4. What is your favourite restaurant of all time?
I don’t even have to think about that – Sek Yuen, hands down. That place has really got soul.
5. Currently, what is the one tip about food blogging you would give to new food bloggers?
Be true to yourself – don’t blog in a ‘style’, and don’t blog to become a star. Blog because you love food.
6. What do you think about the food culture we currently have in Malaysia?
I’m disturbed by the popularity of foreign franchises and the mushrooming of Starbucks outlets. I was just in Northern Thailand and it’s nearly impossible to find local coffee anymore – it’ll happen here too, eventually. At the same time I’m heartened by the passion Malaysians maintain for their hawker food favorites; in terms of food, I don’t think KL will resemble Singapore anytime soon, and that’s a good thing IMO.
7. Your final thoughts about food you’d like to share with the Feedmelah.com readers?
When it comes to eating, go out on a limb when you travel. Food is one of the best ways I know of connecting with strangers.
End of the Interview
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