Khir Johari was born and raised in the historic Gedung Kuning (Yellow Mansion) in Kampong Gelam, Singapore’s earliest Muslim quarter. He is a researcher and collector of Malay history and culture; former vice-president of the Singapore Heritage Society; a respected heritage consultant and speaker; a diehard foodie and consummate cook.
Khir’s Southeast Asian collection includes artworks, rare books and artifacts, food anthropology items and music recordings. He obtained a BSc in Mathematics from Santa Clara University and a Masters in Education from Stanford University. The Food of Singapore Malays, a decade in the making, is his first book.