Khir Johari Author Talk • The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through the Archipelago

About this event

Khir Johari is the author of the multi-award-winning book The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels Through the Archipelago. His seminal work explores the cultural anthropology of Malay food and showcases its role in shaping Singapore’s Malay culture. The title is the result of 11 years of painstaking research, drawing on material that dates back as far as the 7th-century Srivijaya Empire. The book is richly detailed, combining historical anecdotes and information with captivating photography. Since its release, the book has won numerous awards, including the internationally coveted Best of the Best in Food Culture at the 2025 Gourmand World Food Awards. Following this success, Khir founded Dialogues by Khir Johari, a platform dedicated to exploring the Nusantara’s (maritime Southeast Asia) food, culture, and history through events and online discussions. Its inaugural event, Serumpun: Tasting Tradition, Telling Tales held in 2024 now returns for its third edition. The day-long symposium features talks, panel discussions, and restaurant collaborations. Khir’s journey toward becoming a respected figure in promoting the Nusantara’s culinary culture began in his childhood. Born and raised in Kampong Gelam, he grew up in the historic Gedung Kuning (Yellow Mansion) — once an annex of the Sultan of Singapore’s royal palace. It was in this sprawling home, housing a four-generation household, where his earliest food memories were shaped. Both celebratory and everyday dishes were prepared in the house’s four kitchens, under the watchful eye of his great-grandmother. His mother, an accomplished cookery teacher, also taught him how to cook. Khir’s interest in his cultural identity deepened in 1994 when he left Singapore for university in California. Reflecting on his roots from afar, he longed to read in Malay, taste the food of home, and reconnect with his heritage. In California’s libraries and bookstores, he discovered a wealth of books on Southeast Asia, offering

Who

• Khir JohariAuthor

Venue

Omnivore: Books on Food

3885A Cesar Chavez Street

Venue website

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