Han Sen Hau
Han Sen, Hau, contributing writer at The Yum List, shares a little about his background, food and travel preferences and gives some insight into his role.
What’s your role at The Yum List?
I’m a contributing writer for The Yum List.
When you’re not Yum Listing…
I work primarily as a public relations consultant for shopping malls. I also offer copywriting and photography services through my (mobile) studio. I like to discover new sights and experiences that spawn around town, anything to feed the culture vulture that lives rent-free in my head some creative inspiration.
What languages do you speak? What countries have you lived in? Where did you grow up? (something about your background)
Simply by virtue of being Malaysian Chinese, I speak Malay, Chinese, and English. I’m also picking up Japanese in my spare time.
I grew up travelling most of my life due to my father’s occupation in the aviation industry, which greatly shaped my worldview. I also received my Bachelor’s in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Big Red!), and my Master’s in Linguistics from the University of Leeds.
What are your food and beverage preferences/ preferred style of dining?
It is a hideous crime to make a Malaysian choose a favourite cuisine/style of dining because food forms such a huge part of our culture, identity, and being that we would simply cease to exist if we were stripped of our access to the wealth of culinary options invading our senses on a daily basis.
That said, I appreciate any location that would allow me to eat without whispering, which would mean it’s too ridiculously fancy for me to relax (even though it’s fascinating to learn about fine dining culture), or shouting, which suggests I’m at a club or an incredibly noisy food court.
Go-to drink?
I simply cannot survive without tea, especially Malaysian teh tarik.
As for alcoholic beverages, it’s either a good bottle of umeshu or whiskey.
What is comfort food for you?
T-there are just… t-too many to list!
If I absolutely had to pick just one, it’s incredibly specific: a traditional fried radish dish that is prepared from this particular stall in a food court in Batu Pahat, Johor. I know I will be depressed when the sole proprietress retires. Oh, the amount of photos and videos I have taken of her over the years just frying radish cubes on a flat pan…
What style of traveller are you?
I’m a big planner when it comes to travelling, and I love collecting physical maps as souvenirs. There’s just something about a printed map (the best ones are illustrated) that I can touch and feel that excites me. I am also obsessed with architecture and ruins, so anywhere with an abundance of both is at the top of my list.
What’s in your fridge?
Among the usual suspects, a bottle of amaretto that I’m unwilling to finish (because it’s so good) and a box of chocolate figs.
What do you like to cook?
Ratatouille! It’s healthy, it’s incredibly easy to make, and it tastes better over time after you leave it in the fridge. I have yet to create the exact variant of that famous dish from the Pixar movie, though…
What do you look for in a menu?
When I’m not writing for The Yum List, I find myself defaulting to familiar comforts if not asking for the chef’s recommendation.
When I’m writing for The Yum List, a story. There are only so many ways to describe pesto pasta! So if a common staple gets recommended to us, I would try to find out what makes this dish tick. More often than not, it’s less about “oh, this tastes better” (the differences are usually marginal unless it’s that horrid) and more about what makes each dish unique.
This can even happen between dishes that share the same ingredients! It’s the minute differences in the history, manner of preparation, ratio, presentation, smell, and anecdotes… that make a dish truly memorable.
What do you do for fun?
Sleep. I thoroughly enjoy the comforts of my sweet, sweet bed precisely because I am constantly sleep-deprived.
When I’m not exhausted, I like to wind down in a cosy cafe, participate in painting workshops, photograph anything that catches my eye, and tend to my garden. I’m a proud plant parent to a “bonsified” Stephania Erecta and a variegated Monstera Albo.
Something people might not know about you…
I collect Märklin model steam locomotives. They’re eye-wateringly expensive because of their artistry, but I turn into an excited five-year-old whenever I see those wheels on a track.
Favourite place to travel?
I’m torn between the UK and Japan. Both countries have astounding surviving examples of their rich cultural heritage. Spending an entire day walking around Chatsworth House in the Peak District or going temple hopping in Kyoto are both equally appealing options to me.
Stand-out travel story…
I once trudged through the snow in Brontë Country to visit the ruined Top Withens, which was a top contender for the inspiration behind Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. I was knee-deep in freshly powdered snow and had to rely on trees and stone fences as landmarks to mark my journey, but the sense of awe and isolation I felt when I arrived at the ruins was unforgettable.
Memorable food story…
Growing up, I hated anything that “slithers” and either had no legs (snakes, eels, etc.) or too many of them (millipedes, centipedes, etc.), and just the mere sight of them can trigger a physical reaction of sheer repulsion. So the only reason why I’m able to thoroughly enjoy a fat slice of unagi glazed in teriyaki sauce now is because my parents lied to me the first time I had it as a child and said they were just chunks of aubergine, a favourite vegetable of mine.
I absolutely love unagi now, even though I cannot imagine touching a live one…
Something readers might not know about The Yum List…
I don’t think anyone realises how hard Monica works to keep The Yum List running at a steady rhythm with a pep in her step and a smile on her face, all the while juggling her daytime responsibilities as an educator.
Something unexpected you discovered with The Yum List…
The sheer number of people in the country who are constantly working to improve their craft in elevating the F&B industry. Again, as Malaysians, we’re constantly buffeted with the availability of good, tasty food that our palates sort of… plateaus. However, through my adventures with The Yum List, I have learnt that there is always more to discover, to savour, and to tinker with when it comes to cuisine, even if we’re limiting the scope to just the local fare.
Han Sen Hau’s most memorable Yum List experience…
Almost a decade ago (has it been that long?!), Monica and I happened to be travelling to Bangkok at the same time through separate arrangements, and she very generously invited me to write about The Peninsula Bangkok, which was completely out of my league back then.
That kind of opportunity would not have existed without The Yum List.
A restaurant/bar worth mentioning… because…
Fifty Tales at Bandar Sri Damansara (they’re also available as Chū at REXKL) and ChoCha Foodstore at Petaling Street. I really, really love what these two establishments are doing with their menus, as the dishes served are all reinterpretations of classic staples that would truly compel me to drive all the way from Subang Jaya just to savour them.
As for bars, I must recommend The Rebel Penguin of Funky Town in Wisma Cosway. I love how playful the drinks are, and the hidden location adds intrigue.
Pet food and beverage/ or travel peeves…
Scaffolding… a photographer’s true nightmare. Imagine arriving at Versailles only to find half of the palace covered in scaffolding due to maintenance works. I am absolutely cognisant of the immense difficulty and requirement to maintain such important vestiges of our past, but… man, do the photos come out looking weird.
What is Han Sen Hau listening to/ reading/ watching at the moment?
I wind down to artists like Odesza, Les Gordon, Petit Biscuit, and Polo & Pan. They accompany me when I’m editing photos late into the night.
One Han Sen Hau’s fave TV shows of all time?
I am a big fan of The Golden Girls. The show balances humour and tragedy so brilliantly and remains relevant even to this day because of how bold it was back in the 80s. There’s just something so irresistibly comforting about joining four old ladies by the dinner table and eating cheesecake while they talk about old boyfriends and St. Olaf.
Final words…
The Yum List has always been and will continue to be a labour of love, so I hope that it remains a safe space and a platform of positivity for all who are looking for a good recommendation.
Read some of Han Sen Hau’s articles on The Yum List here, and stay up to date with the latest gourmet happenings around Malaysia here and here.
Awesome credentials! Great looking guy!