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cambodia
105 اقرأ هذه المقالة باللغة العربية في الصفحةA
© James Mizerski
three great places
Phnom Penh Cambodia’s busy capital has a truly international food scene, where visitors can enjoy excellent Asian and European fare as well as the much-loved local Khmer cuisine. Words by Lina Goldberg
Deco
Romdeng
La P’tite France
This stylish Phnom Penh restaurant may take its aesthetic cues from the 1920s art deco movement, but the cuisine is entirely modern. The latest from British chef Caspar von Hofmannsthal, who last made a splash in Phnom Penh with Japanese fusion restaurant Yumi, Deco offers innovative modern European fare, retro cocktails, and a selection of fine wines by the bottle or glass. The menu is impressive and filled with creative touches. The starters are especially tantalising, such as Scotch quail eggs with mustard mayonnaise, and perfectly house-cured salmon with sour cream and rye bread. The 200g Deco burger is another favourite – prepared sous-vide and served with triple-cooked chips, it’s juicy and delicious. If you aren’t stuffed, try Deco’s sticky toffee pudding; diners rave that it’s the best dessert in town.
The perfect place to try Cambodian food, Romdeng offers a relaxing dining experience in a lovely French colonial building with al fresco garden seating. The menu features Khmer favourites as well as contemporary Cambodian dishes to highlight the best of this cuisine. Although few foreigners are familiar with Cambodian food, it’s not hard to love it. With an emphasis on freshness and simplicity, the Cambodian menu at Romdeng includes several vegetarian options, seasonal salads, and elegant, understated curries. The limemarinated beef salad with fresh herbs is not to be missed. The restaurant is run by a local charity – Friends International – which trains former street children to work in the hospitality industry. Although most of the staff are in training, the service at Romdeng is outstanding.
Phnom Penh is known for its many French restaurants, a culinary reminder of Cambodia’s colonial past. Located in a beautiful villa in Phnom Penh’s leafy Boeung Keng Kang neighbourhood, La P’tite France offers excellent French fare and surprising value for money. Popular with French expats, La P’tite France’s extensive menu features traditional dishes such as duck confit, braised veal shank, and homemade quiches, plus an altogether less-French selection of pizzas and pasta dishes. La P’tite France’s delicious starters are a highlight, including savoury French onion soup bursting with toasted croutons and melted cheese, tangy marinated salmon, and an array of tasty salads. A standout is the decadently rich marrowbone gratin served with toasted bread and a dish of fleur de sel – at just US$5.25 it’s a steal.
Phnom Penh, Cambodia ✈ Distance: 5,802 km ✈ Flight time: 9 hours ✈ Frequency: Daily Oryx April 13
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Contact Deco #46 Street 352 Tel: +855 17 577 327 www.decophnompenh.com
Romdeng #74 Street 174 Tel: +855 92 219 565 tree-alliance.org/our-restaurants/ romdeng.asp
La P’tite France #38 Street 306 Tel: +855 16 642 630 Open daily