Since MCO, online food deliveries are the increasingly popular way Malaysians put food on the table. As the Director of Commercial & Partnership at Grab Malaysia, JJ Tan has a great overview of the industry. In this episode of Foodie Canteen, we get some insight from the 2020/2021 Food Trend report, such as the upcoming trends in Malaysian F&B and what online merchants can do to stay ahead. On a more personal level, JJ tells us what it’s like working for one of Southeast Asia’s most successful technology companies along with some tips on thriving in a corporate environment.

“The future of F&B is omnichannel-driven, in the sense that dine-in, delivery and self pick-up will coexist.” - JJ Tan

Timestamps:

0:00 - Narration: From a footballer to becoming the Director of Commercial & Partnership at Grab Malaysia

1:18 - JJ’s dream as a child

1:49 - His funny personal encounter with a taxi driver

4:00 - A day in the life of the Director of Commercial & Partnership at Grab MY and the challenges that come with it

5:46 - Enabling local businesses through Grab campaigns like “Minggu Peniaga Kecil”

7:50 - Insights from the Food Trend Report 2020/2021: “Malaysians want to eat healthily.”

10:54 - Catch a breath, friends!

11:24 - The “top-searched” categories on GrabFood

12:45 - Tips for restaurants owners for the year 2022

15:09 - Grab rolls out new tools for merchants/restaurants to navigate online sales

16:43 - Grab’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly

18:05 - Grab’s work culture

19:35 - The future of F&B: Omnichannel-driven

21:14 - Advice for people who are looking to thrive in a corporate environment

Soh Wai Ching is no stranger to pushing the limits. Last year, he made his mark in the Guinness Book of World records for the Greatest Vertical Height Stair Climbing in One Hour. This year, he made history as the first Asian to win the Empire State Building Run-Up in New York City. The 27-year-old Malaysian scaled all 86 floors in just 10 minutes and 40 seconds. During Recess, he talks about how slow-mo videos of the Empire State Building’s stairs became his bedtime story, his runner's mentality and we get all the juicy details of his meeting with Marvels' Winter Solider!

Follow Wai Ching's running journey @mastowerrunner!

The Recess Podcast brings you short interviews of how inspiring creators in Southeast Asia do it all. New episodes every Wednesday at 6PM. Hosted by Kessyl and SueLyn, content producer and editor at Good Foodie Media.

In more ways than one, Mandy Goh is one in a million. At just 31 years old, Mandy rose through the ranks to become The St. Regis Langkawi’s first female executive head chef. In this episode of Foodie Canteen, she spills the beans on what this opportunity meant to her, how she lets her imagination guide her in creating experimental menus and why family support and mental resilience are crucial in every chef’s journey.

“Don’t compare yourself with others, as long as you have the motivation and passion, you will be successful.” - Mandy Goh

Timestamps:

0:00 - Narration: Running away from alphabets to break glass ceilings in the culinary world

2:58 - Peeling onions and vacuuming soup packets at Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

5:58 - Meeting her mentor Marcel Kofler and becoming the first all-female team to win Bocuse D’Or Asia

10:29 - “Besta electronic translator became my best friend”

12:55 - Mandy’s relationship with Langkawi, Malaysia

15:53 - Becoming the first female executive chef at The St. Regis Langkawi at 31 years old

18:13 - “Pot throwing” kitchen-culture is outdated

20:35 - Being a great chef is more than just creating a menu

21:20 - From wielding a knife to a pen - How her duties shifted as an executive chef

23:12 - Managing different concepts from L’Orangerie, Kayuputi, Gourmand Deli to Pantai Grill at The St. Regis Langkawi

23:50 - How Chef Mandy creates through imagination

25:42 - Creating an experience through a two-hour dining journey - Texture, Taste and Theatre

27:41 - Reminiscing Penang Hawker Food

30:00 - The importance of conversing with diners post-meal

33:10 - “It’s not easy for a female to lead a Malaysian luxury hotel brand”

36:31 - “Learn the basics”

37:43 - Family support and mental resilience is indispensable

“But Honestly” is a Malaysian card game created by three childhood friends - Ting Shi Qi, Davin Ngu and Sarah Wong. Designed to spark meaningful and honest conversations about one of Asian culture’s most taboo subjects: vulnerability, their Kickstarter campaign has raised more than double the initial goal. During Recess, Shi Qi and Davin showed us their hand at the creative process behind the card game and threw us a few questions from the deck. Questions like - "When was a time you felt like you were not good enough?"

For more updates on the card game, follow @buthonestly.co!

The Recess Podcast brings you short interviews of how inspiring creators in Southeast Asia do it all. New episodes every Wednesday at 6PM. Hosted by Kessyl and SueLyn, content producer and editor at Good Foodie Media.

What started as a kitchen conversation with his mom about her pumpkin jam turned into an e-commerce platform that helps thousands of Malaysian mom and pops food creators bring their businesses online. Since the pandemic, Kravve has grown 10-fold, raising RM1.2 million through equity crowdfunding and furthering Yong Lin and his co-founders’ goal of expanding access to digitalisation for all. In this episode, he tells us how they did it, and why digitalisation is coming for us, whether we like it or not.

“The digitalisation of businesses is inevitable.” - Yong Lin Teh

Timestamps:

[01:25] - Yong Lin's upbringing and how it shaped him

[03:19] - A Sunday morning conversation that eventually led to starting Kravve

[05:36] - First exposure to entrepreneurship

[09:43] - Starting Kravve from ground zero

[11:00] - How Kravve helps small businesses grow and go digital

[13:10] - Biggest challenge: “We were constantly running out of money”

[16:52] - Raising RM1.2 mil in equity crowdfunding through storytelling

[19:20] - Changing the lives of the small business owners

[21:14]- Levelling the playing field for all online sellers regardless of technological experience

[23:28] - “Digitalisation of businesses is inevitable, online business is here to stay”

[26:18] - Ensuring food safety and payment security

[27:43] - Advice to budding entrepreneurs

[30:47] - “Kravve belongs to Malaysians”

Joan Low is a banker turned mental health advocate. In 2019, she founded ThoughtFull, a subscription-based app that conducts therapy through 1-on-1 daily coaching sessions with professional therapists. Early this month, it raised one of the largest seed rounds in the digital mental health startup space in Southeast Asia, at $1.1 million USD. In this episode, she tells us what prompted her to leave the finance world, breaks down some misconceptions we might have around mental health and answers the question: "How do we snap ourselves out of a bad headspace?"

Our listeners can now get 10% off their first trial with "TFCFOODIE"!

Use this promo code on top of the existing 14-day free trial:

The Recess Podcast brings you short interviews of how inspiring creators in Southeast Asia do it all. New episodes every Wednesday at 6PM. Hosted by Kessyl and SueLyn, content producer and editor at Good Foodie Media.

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Anabelle Co-Martinent is a Chinese-Filipino who’s lived in Malaysia for over a decade. What started as a “small” idea in her apartment kitchen has now made Anabelle the co-founder and director of the healthy-eating empire, La Juiceria Superfoods, which has continued to revolutionise the daily eating habits of busy urban lifestyles. 8 years in and 10 outlets later, Anabelle shares the secret to La Juiceria’s success and offers some advice for the modern women of today.

“I will do it because I can.” - Anabelle Co-Martinent

Timestamps:

[01:30] - Working for technology companies like Nokia, HP and Microsoft at the height of the internet revolution

[02:30] - How motherhood led Anabelle to start her own business

[04:16] - Two year sabbatical of self-discovery

[06:35] - The idea to start La Juiceria and using her husband as a guinea pig

[12:33] - Cold-Pressed vs Centrifugal Juice

[14:53] - How they make superfoods like ginger and turmeric taste delicious

[17:23] - The secret to La Juiceria’s success: Keep chasing innovation

[19:06] - Evolving from La Juiceria to La Juiceria Superfoods

[24:34] - Working for big companies vs. Starting your own business

[29:02] - “The world is changing and I think that women of today can make better decisions”

[34:30] - “I will do it, because I can”

[35:55] - Anabelle’s advice for our listeners

Cheryl Low and Wilson Chin are the founders of Nude, The Store in Malaysia where customers bring their own containers and bags to buy soaps, snacks and skincare. In this episode of Recess, they spoke about the average Malaysian's lifestyle, its ecological impact and answers the question of whether eco-friendly products are more costly. And if you're new to the zero-waste culture, where should you even begin?

The Recess Podcast brings you short interviews of how inspiring creators in Southeast Asia do it all. New episodes every Wednesday at 6PM. Hosted by Kessyl and SueLyn, content producer and editor at Good Foodie Media.

The mixologist behind “Constance” (wasabi, jasmine tea syrup rum cocktail) is a fiery personality with a talent for mixing caffeinated and alcoholic drinks. Amanda Wan is a Malaysian barista turned award-winning mixologist and was among the Top 25 Bartenders in Hong Kong by Drinks World Asia 2014/2015. 🌍 In this episode, she gets real about battling with self-worth, her frustrations of being labelled the “female bartender,” and offered some tips on how to become the bartender's favourite!

“Make sure you have these 3 people in your life: Someone you look up to, someone you can live life with, and someone you can be an inspiration to.” - Amanda Wan

Timestamps:

[01:33] - Amanda’s flavourful childhood

[04:47] - Her first job as a Starbucks barista

[12:07] - The injury that led her to the bartending world

[16:16] - Becoming the first female bartender to represent Malaysia at the DIAGEO Global World Class Bartender of the Year Competition 2010

[20:36] - Hong Kong’s vibrant cocktail scene and how their “can-do” spirit shaped who she is today

[25:03] - Inspiration behind the popular “Dewdrops of the Heart” and “Constance” cocktail

[29:05] - The bar is both a stage and an escape

[34:50] - How to qualify to become the bartender’s favourite and get free drinks

[35:55] - Bar stereotypes and what her parents thought about her workplace

[38:01] - “Cute & Bubbly” Women in Bartending

[41:43] - Her new job with Shangri-La Singapore

[46:00] - Battling with self-worth and rediscovering her priorities 

[53:35] - Growth is not linear

[56:29] - Amanda Wan as the “Female Bartender” of Malaysia

[58:20] - Make sure you have these THREE people in your life

The Ming brothers, better known as The Ming Thing, are arguably one of the most humble and creative Malaysian digital creators. During RECESS, Ming Han and Ming Yue share their decade-young content creation secrets, the best and worst parts of being a content creator and how they balance hopes/dreams and the numbers game. Plus, we get some insider tips on functioning at your highest creative self!

The Recess Podcast brings you short interviews of how inspiring creators in Southeast Asia do it all. New episodes every Wednesday at 6PM. Hosted by Kessyl and SueLyn, content producer and editor at Good Foodie Media.