A YOUTHFUL-LOOKING Korean weary of being stewed daily in the pot called the office journeys to Malaysia and sizzles in the vlogging scene.
He has neither a frying pan in one hand nor an apron around the waist, but cherubic Karl Chu feeds us much food for the soul and heart. Trust me, this is not a maudlin line.
But if you do not know the 'Sedap' and 'Sambal' man yet, and of his 'kitchen', fret not. Chu, whose broad smile is as delightful as his hearty giggle (it reminds me of adorable Muttley from the Hanna-Barbera cartoon), has made more than 100 videos of his culinary adventures at stalls and restaurants.
Yes, I know what you are saying. There are many vloggers on stage. It is as crowded as Mid Valley Megamall on a weekend.
But hardy and buddy Chu is different, I would venture.
I suggest you observe him in motion — fork and spoon dancing a tango in his big hands, lips quivering in anticipation, eyes lighting up. And that's just the 'starter'.
I swear every time I watch him on YouTube, the government of my puny stomach wails as if it has not been given its food tax for ages. I feel like jumping into the car and racing to the nearest eatery. Except that it is almost always 1am.
Whether 1am or 2pm, this is not a saccharine story about showmanship and super-duper food. It is about lessons a man from Seoul is teaching us.
Chu, and perhaps other vloggers, are doing what millions of us do every day. Find a shop, eat something, and be off to whatever task awaits us.
But he probably appreciates his food in a way most of us don't. No? For most souls, breakfast, lunch and dinner are merely necessary labour. To fuel them up, to keep them in motion.
Look at Chu, though. Every bite, every morsel is a wondrous delight. But is this merely an act for the video? I find it hard to believe this to be entirely the case. The food and he appear to be speaking to each other, it's a love language for sure.
He honours the food, just like Japan's Takayuki Hamatsu.
It's such a pity if we can't do the same. Or a bit of the same. So much time in life is spent eating, but so little joy is our heart feeling. Just like a man who beholds majestic mountains and sees only a mob of rocks and scarred and wild earth.
Chu's humorous and heartwarming stories, like many others fashioned in that manner, also have a way of uniting people in common purpose.
A little over a week ago, he uploaded a video of a visit to the home of a fan, Kak Sha. Her daughter had asked her to invite him over for lunch. It was a great spread, and included Kak Sha's Perak-style tempoyak.
She told him, "You are also like my children". How gratifying.
Even more pleasing were the numerous comments by the viewers.
"Such a kind, nice and beautiful family. Feel that Chu must be secretly trying hard to hold back his tears when he left," went Eline Goh. And Marlina Ayu Yasin wrote, "Omg I'm in tears watching this video. Really glad K Sha invited you to her house and cook our Malaysian food for you".
Malaysians, from leaders to the everyman, have warts and all. That's without question. But we have a redeeming strength, too. Someone or something else has to show this to us so we can believe.
Today, that task falls to this youthful-looking Korean gentleman who does not have a mastery of English, but is certainly a specialist in reaching out to hearts. Carry on, Chu Bro.
Korean vlogger Karl Chu keeps his age a secret and loves Malaysian food, read more here
