Where eats meets best

Blogger and ambassador of Nokia Nseries Soul of the Night City Guide, Teoh Kar Yeong is a fearless foodie with a taste for adventure, writes AREF OMAR

FOOD, glorious food. From wantan mee to nasi kerabu and thosai, it’s a riot of colours, shapes, sizes and tastes.

What about deep-fried bee pupae?

“It’s got an interesting texture. Crispy on the outside but once you bite in, it’s extra gooey on the inside. Needs to be eaten with sauce though,” says Teoh Kar Yeong, better known as KY, a blogger who has been keeping an online journal of his gastronomic exploits at kyspeaks.com since 2005.

“I was in Ho Chi Minh city on a working trip and a friend’s wife prepared the Vietnamese delicacy for dinner. Nothing’s too exotic or gross for me. As long as it’s edible, I’ll check it out,” says the fearless 30-year-old foodie from Tanjung Tokong, Penang.

As a former employee iPerintis, the IT service provider for Petronas, KY had the opportunity to visit countries around the region including Myanmar, where he had excellent nasi biryani.

The jovial systems analyst now works at Taylor’s University College in Petaling Jaya but still finds time to travel.

“I’m heading for Bangkok next week for a break and I’m looking forward to sampling the local delights,” says KY who is also into photography.

During the interview, held over dinner at the Penang Tropicana Restaurant in SS14 Subang Jaya, he brings out a Nokia N82 handphone and snaps some shots of the dishes on the table.

KY is part of six ambassadors, who act as local guides, for the Nokia Nseries Soul of the Night (SOTN) City Guide online (soulofthenight.nseries.com).

“The ambassadors we chose have different interests ranging from food to independent music and the performing arts,” says Hazel Abu Samah, communications manager of Nokia Malaysia.

“They will be the ones going around snapping shots and uploading them onto the website.

“Together, they will capture and share the best night activities and entertainment around KL and parts of Selangor.”

The SOTN website is intended for those who are looking for new places, something off the beaten track.

It’s expected to grow as a community and eventually everyone will be able to contribute to the content.

“The site is designed to be brief and concise with lots of pictures and easy navigation.

“So, for example, if you were looking for a halal restaurant serving good budget Chinese food, it would be easy to search through the categories that are organised well,” says KY as he demonstrates in a few simple steps with Nokia N82 on how to upload the pictures he took earlier onto the SOTN website, all in less than five minutes.

“It can be quite an expensive affair but I try out different places, from roadside stalls to posh restaurants. And I love all kinds of food, no prejudice,” he says with a laugh.

“Here in Malaysia, because of our diversity, we’re just spoiled for choice. So every day is an adventure.”