The contributors and writers of Food Trotter blog on food culture, cuisines, and food travel from all around the world. It’s made up of a group of foodie volunteers stationed in all corners of the globe. To find out more, or to join, contact us at jing@foodtrotter.com.
Jing Loh – Founder
Jing is a food enthusiast with a gluttonous obsession. Spending his early years in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (arguably the best places to eat in the world!), he discovered an appreciation for food that would ultimately lead to his childhood obesity. After years of recovery, he channeled his energy into a Commerce degree at Queen’s University, traveled the globe to “find” himself, became more Chinese by learning Mandarin at Beijing University, and ate on the streets in China and South East Asia (yak meat anyone?). With his food prowess heightened, he worked in commodities risk management, tuning into the infinite wisdom of the market for oil, energy, and (ironically) foodstuff like wheat, sugar and orange juice. Throwing his financial modelling skills away, he quit and became an entrepreneur – thus a green company called Young Urban Farmers was born. Stressed, engaged, and about to wed, Jing is looking to escape reality by creating Food Trotter. With an emotional attachment to food, he hopes to learn more about the dishes he loves to eat, sharing this with the rest of the world. With a passion for travelling, food, multiculturalism, and entrepreneurship, he hopes that Food Trotter will become a growing hobby leading to the eventual goal of restaurant ownership.
Read Jing’s articles here
Nancy Huynh – Founder
I AM OBSESSED about food. I’m a graduate student studying the geography of food; a food pornographer; a experimental cook; and will eat just about anything. After completing an undergraduate degree in Commerce, all I wanted to do was make some money and eat some food, but I was absolutely not going to work a desk job. So I said fuck you corporate world, and went from being a half-assed day trader, to an entrepreneur-grad student. Reading Pollan, Schlosser, and others, I took a shot in the dark and applied to graduate school to study geography. In my application I wrote three short stories (paragraphs really) about food, and the rest is history. My thesis looks at entrepreneurialism in the Vietnamese restaurant landscape in Toronto.
When I travel I like to seek out good cheap food because I find that the cheap restaurants often have more interesting stories behind them than high-end places. Chefs at these dive restaurants just want to feed people and make a few bucks, and that’s what restaurants should be about. There are so many stories that can be told through food – histories of the people, the cuisine, the places. Food brings people together, food has a life of it’s own, food is my first love.
Read Nancy’s articles here
Samantha Wong – Editor-in-Chief
Hello! I’m thrilled to be a part of FoodTrotter! Discussions about food and travel are not a rarity for me, and it was during one of those not-so-uncommon food and travel conversations with Jing that we decided to collaborate on this website. Doesn’t everybody love having tips for where to travel and where to eat? I’m not just talking about “you must have high tea at Claridges if you visit London” or “make sure to eat some macrons when you visit Paris!” I’m talking “you’re travelling to Mexico? Make sure to eat the chorizo tostada at the little hole in the wall on the corner of X and X… it’s authentic, a hidden gem, and it won’t give you stomach problems later!” I’m talking “you’re travelling to Beijing and there are 5 different ‘famous’ places for Peking duck? Well, you should visit this place if you’re looking for XXX and that place if you’re looking for XXX.” You can rest assured that here at FoodTrotter, we will freely share our knowledge and ever-so-valuable insider tips with you, the epicurean traveller. Likewise, we’re happy to have you partake in the foodie conversation and leave your tips for us! Welcome to FoodTrotter, the travelling foodie’s best friend.
Read Samantha’s articles here
Wei Su – Writer
Wei loves food…so much to a point where she often finds herself daydreaming about a cast and crew of vibrant ingredients and how she can turn them into a yummy concoction in her tiny kitchen. As she is nearing the completion of her studies to become a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, she has developed an even greater understanding and deep appreciation for the healing properties and sustenance that whole foods give us. After cleaning up her diet and incorporating more nutritious foods, Wei has never felt better emotionally, mentally and physically!
In a past lifetime, hoping to find her passion, Wei completed a Psychology Undergraduate degree from Queen’s University, a Masters degree in Childhood Studies at Ryerson University and later went on to pursue a Bachelor of Education at the University of Toronto. All these experiences were enriching, and eventually cumulated to a desire to start a career in holistic nutrition – she has never been happier! Through Food Trotter, Wei would like to share how you can embrace and lead a healthy, sustainable, globally conscious, and joyful lifestyle – all through what you choose to eat.
Read Wei’s articles here
Jeanette Tsai – Writer
Born and raised in Vancouver Canada, Jeanette was a sushi and steak food lover from a very young age. After graduating with an English degree from Carleton University, Jeanette soon found herself living, eating and immersed in the Japanese lifestyle in Tokyo. It wasn’t until living in Japan did her love for food blossom. For the past two and a half years, Jeanette has been stuffing herself from Indian curry to finding the perfect egg tart (which is currently non-existent)! Knowing how much Westerners love almost-everything Japanese, here’s a take from the source of it all with a Western perspective.
Read Jeanette’s articles here
Karen Baksi – Writer
Food has always been a huge part of my life. There’s a picture of me on my first birthday with bows and shredded newspaper on my head, opening presents but I have a huge frown on my face. My mother told me that I was sick with a fever so my birthday wasn’t turning out so well… until my mom brought out a traditional Korean birthday soup, Miyuk Guk, seaweed soup. As soon as my mom spooned a bite of soup with rice, my frown disappeared. I truly believe that food can cure the soul! I recently quit my corporate job to pursue my interests and passion in the culinary world. Now I am living the life that was meant for me: to cook, eat, and travel the world! And of course write articles for my favorite food site, Food Trotter! I hope that all of you will enjoy my take on food, travel, and life!
Read Karen’s’ articles here
Charlene Ng – Writer
When it is time for breakfast, Charlene thinks about lunch. When it is lunchtime, she thinks about dinner. It is a vicious cycle everyday for Charlene who had caused friends and relatives to be annoyed with her need to be supplied with food every few hours. Easily excitable by food, her endeavors have taken her to eating competition (okay, just one), restaurants round the world and homeless shelters around Australia just to try the soup of the day. She also loves to rummage the fridge of unsuspecting victims, while trying to maintain her dignity in doing so.
With a passion for writing, Charlene also maintains her own food blog http://thepenguineats.wordpress.com but is sadly eating more than she can type.
Read Charlene’s articles here
Julia Cao – Recipe Writer
Julia is currently living in Australia where the warm climate allows her to grow a lot of her own produce. Her goal is to have a sustainable, organic garden that can feed her family and friends. She believes that sharing information about healthy cooking and eating practices, can lead to a happy and sustainable society. Julia loves to eat, cook and talk about food and is always thinking about what her next meal will be. Her favourite saying is “I made this from scratch!”. She travels a lot with her hippie-muso boyfriend, which allows her to explore the food, culture and music of many and varied places. Subsequently she has become interested in the healing qualities of food, the importance of seeking the best quality produce available, and the truth of the saying “You can’t make an apple pie out of horse shit”
Emma Beqaj – Writer
A lover of everything food since about five years old while helping make banana muffins in the kitchen, Emma has turned into a complete and utter foodie. Always thinking, talking, breathing, and living food, Emma dedicates her days to knowing as much as she can and about the food industry worldwide. Her guiding passion is the biggest part of her life (during and outside of work) and this lifelong passion of hers has turned real with her acceptance into a Culinary Management Program at the George Brown Chef School in Toronto and the development of her food blog: http://emmaseatery.blogspot.com Living in Toronto, Emma’s Canadian food adventures are never-ending. Enjoy the posts on FoodTrotter related to Emma’s culinary experiences in her home, Canada, and globally!
Helena Liu – Chief Photo Editor
Julia is currently living in Australia where the warm climate allows her to grow a lot of her own produce. Her goal is to have a sustainable, organic garden that can feed her family and friends. She believes that sharing information about healthy cooking and eating practices, can lead to a happy and sustainable society.
Julia loves to eat, cook and talk about food and is always thinking about what her next meal will be. Her favourite saying is “I made this from scratch!”. She travels a lot with her hippie-muso boyfriend, which allows her to explore the food, culture and music of many and varied places. Subsequently she has become interested in the healing qualities of food, the importance of seeking the best quality produce available, and the truth of the saying “You can’t make an apple pie out of horse shit”
