Going With My Gut

Edible Experiences, Action Against Hunger, and a League of Supperheroes

By day they walk amongst us, spending their weeks unnoticed, as they live out a normal life as teachers, journalists and doctors. But at the weekend, their super-human cooking powers come to life, turning their homes into pop-up restaurants around London to become ‘The Supperheroes Series’.

Starting this weekend until the end of October 2012, these culinary crusaders are working with international aid agency Action Against Hunger to help fight the injustice of child hunger around the world, conjuring up the most magical menus and using their own recipes to bring delicious food to paying diners – with all profits going towards this worthy cause.

Our foodie startup Edible Experiences is delighted to be the ticketing partner for Action Against Hunger and our league of Supperheroes. Come meet them and try their hunger-busting secret weapon dishes!

 

Win Fabulous Foodie Prizes!

Guest who attend at least 3 Supperhero suppers will automatically be entered into a prize draw and stand to win

• A Delicious Hamper of Unearthed goodies
• 3-hour Asian Cookery Masterclass for 2 at School of Wok
• A “Sausage-Wrangling” Course for 2 at The Butchery Ltd

 

Our League of Supperheroes!

25 Aug: A Hong Kong dinner by FedbyTang - aka Cherry Kung Fu Panda! (SOLD OUT)

 

(Photo on right credit: Cherry Smart)

 

25 Aug: A Vietnamese dinner by Table for 10 (SOLD OUT)

7 Sep: A Mauritian dinner by Yummy Choo - aka Selina Warrior Princess! (Photo credit: Charlotte Hu Photography)

15 Sep: A Malaysian Nyonya feast by Wild Serai

15 Sep: An Indian Street Food Mela by Darjeeling Express

16 Sep: An Italian and Spanish dinner by Backdoor Kitchen and Flavours of Spain

22 Sep: Soda Bread Sensations by The Lazy Baker

29 Sep: A Jamaican dinner by Lisa's Jamaican Kitchen

19 Oct: A Nietzche - themed dinner by The Thinkers Balcony

21 Oct: A Punjabi & Bengali dinner by Khana Commune London

27 Oct: A Pakistani and Keralan Monsoon Feast by Pukka Paki and Absolute Indian

Let the culinary legends begin!

 

Are you secretly a Supperhero? What's your supperhero name and secret weapon dish?

If you'd like to join the league of Action Against Hunger Supperheros, email admin (at) edibleexperiences.com

Grandma's Foochow Ang Chow Featured in NYC's Open City Blog

Source: Asian American Writers' Workshop's Open City Magazine

 

Hello lovely readers. Apologies for the radio silence over the last few weeks. Baby Z is getting wrigglier by the day (yes did I mention? We had a little Meatball / Char Siew Bao / Xiao Long Bao / Wagyu / insert nickname from friends here in January).

Our other baby, foodie activity hub Edible Experiences is also growing in fits and spurts. Between the 2 we've been kept very happy and utterly sleep deprived!

But this month I somehow managed a surprise little achievement that is very close to my heart: Getting my utterly fabulous 97 year old grandmother Madam Lim Kim Tee and her family recipe for Foochow Ang Chow (fermented red rice wine) featured in New York's Asian American Writer's Workshop's Open City Magazine. Read the article here.

Apparently when my Mum showed the article to Grandma in Singapore, Grandma asked if the article and her photo (above) could be seen other people's computers as well. Mum gave a short explanation of how the internet worked (really wish I was there for that!) and said, yes, anyone with a computer and an internet connection could see it. I'm told the beam on Grandma's face was quite a sight to behold.

I'm beaming as well.

A toast to Grandma!

Going With My Gut Featured in BruneiONS

Above: Screenshot of BruneiONS

 

I reckon most writers of any sort, spend most days feeling like they're just shouting into the wind. So it's always heartwarming to realise that someone, somewhere is reading and listening. Sometimes in the most unexpected of quarters.

Last week I got notified that this wee blog was getting featured in Brunei Darussalam weekly culture and lifestyle e-zine BruneiONS. Where accounts of our gluttonous adventures are described as "witty and amusing" and our photos are described as "delightful".

Heck, if you say so. :-)

I'll try to keep it up then.

Going With My Gut Featured in Brandeis Magazine

Above: Screenshot of the online edition of Brandeis Magazine, Summer 2011

 

Wooooooooooot! Absolutely thrilled that this little blog and our even teenier incubating foodie startup got a lovely mention in the cover story "Finding the Inner Foodie" of the Summer 2011 issue of my alma mater's alumni magazine. And GOSH there are a lot of fascinating foodie folks among my fellow Brandeis University alumni. I definitely need to look some of them up!

If you'd like to amuse yourself with a larger version of my very goofy mug, here's the full feature (I'm on lucky tab 13). This whole issue of the magazine is about food, so do have a leisurely poke around!

Whoa, Timeout. We're in Timeout?!

 

Holy crapola! Goz's Singapore supperclub +(65) Plusixfive gets mentioned in TimeOut London this week. On page 26, below Dishoom and Polpo and next to Restaurants in Residence (Well there goes the neighbourhood, they must be thinking!). Thanks very much to future Plusixfive guest diner Tanya for giving us the heads up. You totally made our day.

I'm still in shock. When I took up the role of heading up marketing, reservations management and front of house for Goz's supperclub -- besides to let Goz concentrate on the food while the supperclub was just starting out -- it was very much so that I could learn about all the aches and pains related to organising and marketing food events, stuff I really wanted to know inside out for the food startup Babs and I are building. I'm learning a ton, as I had hoped. But this! This is beyond gravy!

Mostly, though, I think this is the universe telling Goz and me that feeding nice people totally badass ox cheek rendang and braised duck and pork belly mui choi, and making sure they have a fun evening, is a good thing to do, and we that should keep doing it for at least a while more.

So we will.

So come get some. We got some fun stuff coming up in August. Email plusixfive@gmail.com to get on our mailing list, and we'll make sure you get the deets first.

As we say back home in Singapore, "Eh, donch say ne'er chio you har."

Our WWOOFing Adventures Featured on Simple Good and Tasty

Above: WOOF. Spread the word.

 

It's been a mental week, so this is a few days old now, but just wanted to share some shameless but no less exhilarating plug that our WWOOFing adventures got featured by Simple Good and Tasty.

Read about it here:
Local Mobs Gone Global: World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms

The very lovely article was written by Manila-based Tracey Paska, and the publication dedicated to local, organic, sustainable food is based in Minnesota.

I think that officially makes me an international foodie of mystery. I'm going to keep telling myself that, anyway.

P.S. This crop mob idea sounds fabulous. Any UK smallholdings out there interested in getting some help for planting or harvest season? Anyone want to contribute some time to a farm but can spare only a day rather than a couple of weeks? Get in touch here, let's see if we can get something organised!

Hey Men's Health South Africa! Show Me the Money... Or At Least A Donation Receipt

Above: The photo in question

 

I know that it's just 1 photo. And it's not a lot of money. And so far there has been none of the snarkiness that Monica Gaudio encountered with Cooks Source's Judith Griggs.

But it IS money that Men's Health Magazine South Africa itself offered for the use of my photo; and money I asked to be donated to charity.

A charity that I spent time researching and giving thought to, in an effort to make sure that that the money involved would stay within the South African community, the same place I took the photo and the location of the magazine.

So I do not appreciate it that the team at the magazine -- first the designer that contacted me, then possibly its payments department, and then its editor -- are not providing resolution to my emails, after I acted in good faith, and suggested a hopefully creative and socially helpful way to be renumerated for the use of my photo.

Sure, the editorial team is probably overworked, like the rest of the industry. I know first hand a newsroom is hard work. But does a donation receipt and an email link or a PDF of the article where my photo was used take a month? That's all I had asked for, and they are the only things I continue to ask for.

I enclose our email exchange below for reference. I trust this online community to let me know if I'm being unreasonable, or chime in if you've been treated in a similar fashion by Men's Health or elsewhere.

 

=======

Fw: Re: Permission to use image
Monday, November 8, 2010 9:04 PM
From:
"WenLin Soh" <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
View contact details
To:
tellmh@touchline.co.za
Mr Brown

The situation in summary -- Men's Health had sighted, requested for and used a photo which I shot, for your November publication. Because the fee would be small (post international bank transfer costs) I asked that it be donated to a local South African charity on my behalf.

I had asked that Mens Health email me a copy of the donation receipt, and an email link or the PDF or the article where my photo was used.

It's been about a month and I can't get traction on the situation despite a few follow up emails. Can you help please? The situation has been quite discouraging thus far and reflects poorly on Men's Health.

(Full correspondence on the situation below, for your reference)

Many thanks in advance.

WenLin Soh

MSN / Skype ID: wenlin_soh@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/goingwithmygut
http://www.goingwithmygut.com

--- On Fri, 11/5/10, WenLin Soh <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: WenLin Soh <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image
To: "mhdesigner" <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Date: Friday, November 5, 2010, 12:21 PM

Hi Troye

I would like an update on this situation please. It has been quite a few weeks now.

Also please email me a PDF or a link to the magazine article where my photo was used. Thanks

WenLin

--- On Tue, 10/26/10, mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za> wrote:

From: mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image
To: "WenLin Soh" <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2010, 10:39 AM

Hi WenLin
Will follow up and forward email to the respective department.

Regards,

Troye

From: WenLin Soh <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:35:32 -0700
To: mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image

Hi Troye,

It's been a while since our last correspondence. I'd like to follow up on the following please.

* Update on what's happend to my payment for use of the photo which I requested for your company to donate to charity. I would like a copy of the donation receipt please.
* Could you please email me a PDF or a link to the magazine article where my photo was used.

I hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

WenLin

MSN / Skype ID: wenlin_soh@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/goingwithmygut
http://www.goingwithmygut.com

--- On Fri, 10/8/10, mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za> wrote:

From: mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image
To: "WenLin Soh" <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Date: Friday, October 8, 2010, 8:13 AM

Re: Permission to use image Hi WenLin

Yes, thank you for sending the mail, sorry for not replying, it’s just been a really busy week.
We were not able to use your high res image as we were on deadline and had to go to print, but managed to use the low res version instead.

I have forwarded your request to our payments department. They will let me know if anything happens.

Thank you again. Have a good weekend.

Troye

From: WenLin Soh <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2010 15:31:30 -0700
To: mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image

Hi Troye

Please confirm that you received the high res version of the photo and that you are ok to go ahead with the fee donation arrangement.

Many thanks

WenLin

MSN / Skype ID: wenlin_soh@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/goingwithmygut
http://www.goingwithmygut.com

--- On Tue, 10/5/10, WenLin Soh <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: WenLin Soh <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image
To: "mhdesigner" <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 1:53 PM

Troye

Thanks very much for clarifying. I would be delighted for you to use the photo. Attached is the high res version of the photo you requested.

Please credit photo to WENLIN SOH, www.goingwithmygut.com

Could you email me a PDF of the article when the issue runs please? Many thanks.

As for payment, I don't think there will be much left over after international bank transfer fees. Instead, could you please donate the amount to Learn to Earn on my behalf, and email me the receipt of donation? http://www.learntoearn.org.za/FinancialSupport.htm

Many thanks and I look forward to opportunities to work with you again soon.

WenLin

MSN / Skype ID: wenlin_soh@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/goingwithmygut
http://www.goingwithmygut.com

--- On Tue, 10/5/10, mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za> wrote:

From: mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image
To: "WenLin Soh" <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 8:58 AM

Re: Permission to use image Hi WenLin

Thanks for getting back to me.

I work for Men’s Health magazine and we’re doing a food feature on the 13 places to eat before you die.
The Fynboshoek Cheesery was on our list and it seems that your photo’s are the only ones available on the internet.

We only need the one image you took, and it would only take up 1/4 of the page.
Could you perhaps send us the original high res image?

We unfortunately don’t use paypal. The only way we pay our contributors is through bank transfers. Do you perhaps have a South African bank account? If you’d like us to transfer the money into your UK bank account, please be aware that we’re uncertain of what the bank will charge for transfer fees.

I hope this has made things clearer.

Thank you again for your time.

Troye

 

From: WenLin Soh <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 2010 17:50:53 -0700
To: mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Subject: Re: Permission to use image

Hi Troye

Thank you for getting in touch. Delighted that you'd like to use one of my photos.

Could you please clarify

1) What is the nature of the article you are using the photograph with? I'd just like to be comfortable that the photo is used in the appropriate context.

2) The price offered is fine, but given I'm based in the UK, and it sounds like you're in South Africa, what payment method do you propose? For example, are you able to use Paypal?

Looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience,

WenLin Soh

MSN / Skype ID: wenlin_soh@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/goingwithmygut
http://www.goingwithmygut.com

--- On Mon, 10/4/10, mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za> wrote:

From: mhdesigner <mhdesigner1@touchline.co.za>
Subject: Permission to use image
To: "wenlin_soh@yahoo.com" <wenlin_soh@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, October 4, 2010, 4:31 PM

Permission to use image

Hi There

We are featuring a restaurant your visited and took pictures of for our November issue of Men’s Health.
Please could we have permission to use the attached image?

We will credit you as well as pay you for your services.
Our current rates for a 1/4 to 1/2 page is R250-R400.

Please could you let me know asap as we are on deadline.

Thank you.

Troye

mhdesigner1 • DESIGN FREELANCE •
Tel • Cell - N/A • Fax
For TLM corporate overview click here <http://www.touchline.co.za>

Our WWOOFing Adventures in Singapore's The Straits Times

Our WWOOFing (organic farm volunteering) adventures got picked up by this past Sunday's edition of The Straits Times, the English news daily of my native Singapore.

Fwah, in the HOT section no less. I'm sure they meant the oven. But I'll take what I can get!

Read the full story here. Thanks for scanning and pdf-ing and pinging it over here to Rio, Mum!

I'm hoping the article by Rachael Boon about WWOOFing will pique the curiosity of more city-born-and-bred types like me, to venture out of the concrete jungle we know and love so well and explore and engage the places where our food comes from.

Babs and I have now WWOOFed in Spain, Kenya and Japan while on the road, and personally I look forward to more WWOOFing as part of our lifestyle even after we're (soon) done with this big fat 15-month honeymoon.

More recently, I've also been grappling with the twin proposition of growing good food WHILE living in the city. Many of my thoughts still not even half-baked on this one, but Will Allen's Growing Power Inc, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Landshare movement and Novella Carpenter's Farm City were for me inspirational starting points.

If you're curious about or have questions about WWOOFing, I'd love to help / egg on you on if I can. Get in touch!