As always, when the year winds down and we approach a new one, one’s mind start to think back on how it’s gone over the past 12 months. Some good, some not so good. But we’re pretty sure that quite a large chunk of 2016 was spent online right right?
Don’t worry. It’s fine. I guess it’s just how life is nowadays and quite a large percentage of useful information we get nowadays is definitely found on the internet. Besides Facebook, a big influence is Instagram (which Facebook now owns incidentally). Despite a few changes to how it works and all, I guess we all still love Instagram!
There are MILLIONS of accounts you could follow on Instagram to suit every topic under the sun.
For us, we follow mostly food-related accounts (like duh) but we do tend to mix things up quite a bit too.
Everyone’s coming up with their own “Top of 2016 lists” so we just thought we’d share with you the 16 Instagram accounts we followed in 2016 that had a big influence on us! Some are specifically Halal-related accounts but there are non-Halal and even non-food accounts too which we follow because they post really good videos, take amazing photos, share great content or all of the above! And we’re mixing them all up in no particular order okay!
So please enjoy our humble selection and maybe they might inspire you in 2017 the way they inspired us in 2016!
1. Marhamah Sapandi (@msapandi)
You may not recognize that name at first glance but this lady is actually the genius behind @inariku! Well, not only does this trained chef churn out great Japanese cuisine (which you can order btw!) but she takes amazing photos of not only her cooking (not limited to just Japanese) but also from her travels!
Browsing through her account gives us a severe case of the travel bug for sure! In fact, if you’re planning to visit Japan, her account is the one we’d recommend to get good tips! Just have a look and see what we mean! Definitely breathtaking!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BONG5RghzRU/?taken-by=msapandi
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN1_UOOBcAS/?taken-by=msapandi
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN1zYcYhhQN/?taken-by=msapandi
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKyGh_dBb3X/?taken-by=msapandi
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKAN8VaBelY/?taken-by=msapandi
2. Sihan Lee (@fundamentally_flawed)
If I had to describe this account in one word, it’d probably be “ZOMG”.
I had the honour of meeting Sihan on #TheAlshayaFoodTour to Dubai last year and she takes some of the most amazing photos of food! Her account is not Halal food specific by any means but these are still some damn good photos. I’m definitely looking to up my food photography game so plan to stalk her in 2017 while she goes around snapping photos of her food so I can master the sorcery required!
LOL kidding! Or am I *poker face* — just follow this account. Trust me.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNYRr2Xhfh2/?taken-by=fundamentally_flawed
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNb39VKBMsY/?taken-by=fundamentally_flawed
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNi0xC8B9BC/?taken-by=fundamentally_flawed
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOHYBMRB_Tc/?taken-by=fundamentally_flawed
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOONlvABPzf/?taken-by=fundamentally_flawed
3. Gaya Magazine (@gayamagazine)
What a phenomenal year it has been for the team from Gaya Magazine! And 2017 looks set to be even bigger! They are totally slaying with their coverage of Modest Fashion, new, emerging labels and events not only locally, not only regionally but we’re talking world-wide here!
They’ve even launched a bi-monthly sister e-magazine – @suaramagazine – (Suara literally translates to ‘Voice’) which covers a lot of local lifestyle news and events. You can download copies of the magazines for FREE every month but keep up to date in the meantime by following their IG accounts.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMEXSISl33-/?taken-by=gayamagazine
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNHKBfMDFWw/?taken-by=gayamagazine
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOAAv6Tl8M2/?taken-by=gayamagazine
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN1eyM1jsWL/?taken-by=gayamagazine
4. Halalfoodhunt.com (@halalfoodhunt)
We’ve always been fans of Halalfoodhunt.com not only because we are friends, not only because we work with them from time to time and not only because we started out at around the same time but because they really put out a lot of great content!
In 2016, their team expanded to include even more like-minded and talented individuals which meant even bigger and better projects from them! In the past year alone, they had so many big events and collaborations like the recent SG Giving Week and the Ultimate Satay Challenge which was absolutely THE BOMB! And who can forget the EPIK Eat-Off between me and Shams! LOL! Plus they’re always cooking!
Always a pleasure to work with them and here’s to bigger and better things in 2017!
Well, follow them on IG and pay special attention to their IG Stories because they can get pretty zany sometimes LOL I swear to God some of their stuff literally makes me LOL case in point 0- that Sombrero pic below
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKnFBeNBWL4/?tagged=kilokebabchallenge
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIy5b2ghL5r/?taken-by=halalfoodhunt
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJPnhWpB5E4/?taken-by=halalfoodhunt
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLsEK5IB46-/?taken-by=halalfoodhunt
5. Tasty Japan (@tastyjapan)
Okay so this one is more of a guilty pleasure lah right you gotta admit. Watching these kinds of videos actually just make me really angry because they make it look SO easy LOL and the food ALWAYS like macam power like that. It’s like a love-hate relationship!
There are quite a few different channels which similar videos but Tasty Japan is our most hated liked LOL Damn you Tasty Japan. I love you tasty Japan.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNaixeEAaE7/?taken-by=tastyjapan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNvS4YmAIqM/?taken-by=tastyjapan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOLsjD9AknP/?taken-by=tastyjapan
https://www.instagram.com/p/BORyslHAvG4/?taken-by=tastyjapan
6. MISSTAMCHIAK.COM (@misstamchiak)
Wah, Miss Tam Chiak has been an inspiration for us since first started blogging. I can even still remember the first time we met her in person and it was like WOW. Judging by the number of projects churned out in 2016, it’s been a great year! And every time we meet her, she’s always super humble and will have time for a chat which always means a lot!
Not only are the shots featured fantastic but she does cover some Halal makan places from time to time so be sure to read the description of her posts! We’ve found some gems from there! As an added bonus, quite a few very informative (and scenic) travel posts too!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMGHQY_A31M/?taken-by=misstamchiak
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMtEe0fAVbN/?taken-by=misstamchiak
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM3e8xajRyn/?taken-by=misstamchiak
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN3OOYMjP95/?taken-by=misstamchiak
7. The Halal Eater (@thehalaleater)
You’ve probably seen video(s) from him but you may not have known who is responsible for the video(s). That’s because The Halal Eater is very… Well.. he’s kinda like The Stig from Top Gear… expert to the max but elusive.
Some say.. he may actually be a robot. LOL I’m just kidding lah. The Halal Eater is very real and a very nice and easy-going person. I’ve had the pleasure to work with him a few times and it’s always amazing when I think that he’s doing it solo. A one-man show is never easy but he’s got plenty of experience and he definitely knows what’s he doing. Plus, The Halal Eater has just celebrated an epic milestone – 1 YEAR ANNIVESARY! Woot woot!
Get all the good stuff at his website but definitely follow his IG for snippets and inspiration.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNzP-tODG0E/?taken-by=thehalaleater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLdiTPcj8hA/?taken-by=thehalaleater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKsze9AjcDt/?taken-by=thehalaleater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNtAZZYAn4k/?taken-by=thehalaleater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNqVtw4A7rD/?taken-by=thehalaleater
8. Sharon Ismail (@sharonismail)
She does everything lah. She’s an actress, producer, host, writer and also – Instagrammer extraordinaire! LOL
I guess there are plenty of celebrities with Instagram accounts nowadays. Some post very often and some post not so often. Some post mostly commercial stuff like sponsor posts and all that larger-than-life while some mix it up with a lot of personal posts and this shows their down-to-earth side. Sharon Ismail is more of the latter and I guess this is why we like her account a lot. Plus she takes really good photos! (And bonus – she dressed up as Harry Potter compete with Gryffindor robe LOL)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BM0IMuSB1cm/?taken-by=sharonismail
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIyrZUKh1gI/?taken-by=sharonismail
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKdVhIKBfGK/?taken-by=sharonismail
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK41xaDhn8t/?taken-by=sharonismail
9. Explore Singapore (@exploresingapore)
How much of our (so-called) little island have you really seen? Well, if you think you’ve seen a lot, think again. Look at things from a whole new perspective with some of best photos snapped around Singapore!
When you look at some of the pictures, you might even swear that there is no way these were snapped in Singapore… Well, think again!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN63NlrjkVS/?taken-by=exploresingapore
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNI3pNjjkf1/?taken-by=exploresingapore
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMtnEJ6D2rZ/?taken-by=exploresingapore
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJF3nprjwul/?taken-by=exploresingapore
https://www.instagram.com/p/BIz4P-JDjp0/?taken-by=exploresingapore
10. Sheila Salleh (@dripsanddrops)
Another chance meeting at a food tasting (for an Iftar Buffet during Ramadhan!) and we discovered the absolutely delightful account of Sheila Salleh!
Besides travelling and sampling delicious food, she is an avid cook and when I look at her photos, I kinda start having hunger pangs because even the simplest dish looks so good!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLdvTeCDqmU/?taken-by=dripsandrops
https://www.instagram.com/p/BML-hDejNrw/?taken-by=dripsandrops
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNRe8KYDrRa/?taken-by=dripsandrops
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN9egfzj4lO/?taken-by=dripsandrops
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNZQvZpDHjr/?taken-by=dripsandrops
11. The Ramen Rater (@theramenrater)
Do you love noodles? In particular – instant noodles? Well, this guy sure does!
As much as we’d like to admit or not, we eat A LOT of instant noodles here in Singapore and yet, The Ramen Rater has probably eaten more than any of us LOL
In his Instagram account (and also on his site), you’ll see a catalogue of instant noodles from all over the world. Seriously. We’re not kidding. It’s really a lot of instant noodles. He’ll cook ’em, add some extra ingredients as deemed fit, snap a photo and then tell us what he thought of them. He even has an app where you can even scan the barcode from your own packet of instant noodles and if he’s rated it before, you’ll see just how it rated in his books! Really cool plus looking at all the top-shots of bowls of noodles is actually kinda therapeutic LOL
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOAZL44hjEK/?taken-by=theramenrater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMNW1LghYgk/?taken-by=theramenrater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNPJ_YQB61a/?taken-by=theramenrater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKOQ3K0B1FN/?taken-by=theramenrater
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGkvLP-OMcJ/?taken-by=theramenrater
12. Hairil Sukaime (@eatfoodlivefood)
When I think of how to define the word ‘Foodie’, I think of this guy.
I mean, I know plenty of people who love food but I don’t know many who love it as much as this guy. I mean, he doesn’t just eat food, he reads books about it (even I don’t read books about food lah!), debates about it and as his IG handle suggests, he does live it for sure! In fact, he only started his IG account way after we met.
First met him a couple of years ago and he made me realize that food doesn’t have to be complicated to be good. Plus, I blame this account for probably giving me more cravings that any other IG account we follow LOL
https://www.instagram.com/p/61KUopLqB1/?taken-by=eatfoodlivefood
https://www.instagram.com/p/87SUSnrqJa/?taken-by=eatfoodlivefood
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEKzfN2rqIN/?taken-by=eatfoodlivefood
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEAPZTLrqLh/?taken-by=eatfoodlivefood
13. Muslim Travel Experts (@muslimtravelers)
An American-Muslim couple, travelling the world, sharing some absolutely stunning photos and their (and others’) experiences about the 250+ (and counting) cities they have visited so far! REALLY regret not being able to meet them when they came through Singapore earlier this year!
https://www.instagram.com/p/-S_pDkgo0t/?taken-by=muslimtravelers
https://www.instagram.com/p/BA8_RtXgo5C/?taken-by=muslimtravelers
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCPPxuCgozI/?taken-by=muslimtravelers
https://www.instagram.com/p/BK7bKmwD0KY/?taken-by=muslimtravelers
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNyLAKtDjC2/?taken-by=muslimtravelers
14. Lorraine Elliot (@notquitenigella)
Hailing from Sydney, the thing we love most about this account is not only does the food look absolutely delicious, you can also try your hand at replicating because the step-by-step recipes are up on her site as well! Plus, it does look like a good bit of fun!
So her handle says she’s “not quite Nigella” but it looks like someday, someone will probably be using the handle “not quite Lorraine” wethinks!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BL_BnvMDaOM/?taken-by=notquitenigella
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMa_5DnARj8/?taken-by=notquitenigella
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNDH-xJDeWm/?taken-by=notquitenigella
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNJqJPJjSdK/?taken-by=notquitenigella
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNSrjQcDKil/?taken-by=notquitenigella
All information (including prices, availability of item on menu and Halal status of establishment) are accurate at the time of posting. All photos used in this site are property of The Halal Food Blog unless stated otherwise. Anyways, for this post, obviously the photos all other people’s one lah okay.
