Food in Phnom Penh is varied and
ant cacophony of scents and flavors.
delicious. This is the perfect place to try
Perhaps the best way to understand
the national dish, amok. This curry of
the city is by taking a cruise along its
fish and coconut is served in a banana
main river, the Tonle Sap. This remark-
leaf. The curry is steamed inside the ba-
able waterway is the only one in the
nana leaf, resulting in a dish that is fla-
world that reverses its direction ev-
vorful and moist. A rice porridge known
ery year. A festival marks the occasion
as bobor is also a favorite specialty. Lo-
each summer in June. It’s the begin-
cals eat bobor at any time of day. Por-
ning of the monsoon season, so it can
ridge shops typically open at dawn and
be a bit wet, but observing this tradi-
remain open through the afternoon.
tional Cambodian festival is a marvel.
Classical Khmer restaurants also make
Actually, visiting Phnom Penh at any
the dish available later in the day. The
time of year is a memorable event. The
best dining in the city might be found
successful mixing of the ancient, the
along Sisowath Quay where a memo-
holy and the modern makes this a fas-
rable combination of Western, Khmer
cinating destination for any traveler.
and Asian delicacies make for a pleas-
74 Asian Fabric 2013