Food adventure Archives - Dine With The Locals

How to make Kreung, the best Khmer spice paste in 2022

Written by André Ruys on 08/06/2022. Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, Food adventure, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer food, Kochkurs, Kochkurs in Kambodscha, Online-Experience.

It is one of the most important ingredients in Cambodian cuisine, used in stir fried dishes as well as soups or when meat is marinated. If you want to know how to make Kreung we can assure you: it’s quite easy and you should get all ingredients in supermarkets, asia markets or even in your garden.

Kreung is a main ingredient in fish amok, but also used in many soups like samlor korko. Another dish are stir fried vegetables with any kind of meat or tofu, where Kreung is then added.

Despite what the name suggests the spice paste is not spicy. There isn’t even chilli used when you learn how to make Kreung. It’s is related to the use of different herbs and spices. Kreung can be bought at the market – many Cambodians buy it there for daily use – but its much more intense in taste pleasing your palates when you make it from scratch.

Remove the ribs from the kaffir lime leaves

You can use a mortar or a food processor

How to make Kreung in a mortar

The traditional way of producing Kreung is in a classic mortar. It can be made of stone or wood – the result will be the same. You also need a good knife and a chopping board – in Cambodia is a wooden board in every household used for this task.

Ingredients for Kreung (sometimes also called Royal Kreung)

3 stalks lemongrass
1 ounce galangal
4 kaffir lime leaves
8 cloves garlic
2 shallots
1 ounce turmeric
1/2 teaspoon salt

First you need to cut the lemongrass into fine slices. Remove the middle rib from the kaffir lime leave. Only use the white and bright green part of the stalks. Then peel and slice galangal, garlic and ginge as thin as possible. For turmeric you can use either the root or just a teaspoon of power.

Then place lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves in the mortar and start grinding. You can go in circles to ensure that the oil is released from the broken cells. Add the other ingredients and grind until it becomes a thick paste.

Make Kreung in a food processor

If you don’t have a mortar, you can use a food processor or a blender. You still need to cut the ingredients but it doesn’t have to be that fine. The best way how to make Kreung in a food processor is to start again with the hard parts and then add the other ingredients. Don’t use the highest setting.

Red and green Kreung

There are variants of Kreung, and the difference lies in some other ingredients. The green Kreung uses more lemongrass and less – or not at all – tumeric. For the red Kreung you replace the tumeric with chilli. use fresh chilies to get a bright color and a well developed flavor.

How to make Kreung while in Cambodia

If you want to learn how to make Kreung while traveling in Cambodia, you should visit our host Ms. Laum. She will show you how Kreung is used as an ingredient in the famous dish fish amok. You can book the cooking class in Siem Reap with her here.

Jomno, one of the best Khmer restaurants in Siem Reap

The 5 best Khmer restaurants in Siem Reap 2022

Written by André Ruys on 07/26/2022. Posted in cooking class, eat in Siem Reap, Food adventure, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

While we still think that Dine With The Locals provides you the best experience regarding Khmer food, we understand that going out is also important while visiting Siem Reap. Therefore we checked who is still there after Covid-19 and who are the best 5 Khmer Restaurants in Siem Reap. We did an extensive research and found some not well known places tourists usually don’t have on their list – or which aren’t mentioned in – mostly outdated – travel books and blogs.

Our most important criteria for a good restaurant is of course the food. It has to be local food, authentic and well prepared. We also like a twist, something that stands out. The environment plays also a big role – plastic chairs should be the exemption. And we care about a good service, because this is what make you feel comfortable in the best restaurants in Siem Reap.

The price range isn’t that wide in Siem Reap, since we do not cover street food here (but soon in another post). You get decent meals in a range from 3 to 8 US-Dollar for a main dish.

Jomno – modern Khmer cuisine

This place started in a small side street behind Wat Damnak with a street food concept, but moved to a bigger house next to the Deihoy market. Jomno offers fine Khmer food with a twist, a modern approach but still authentic. They have a nice garden, but also indoor seating. It is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

You have small bites like a frittata or fresh marinated fish. For the meat eaters, we recommend the Battambang sausage. What makes it to the top of the list of the best Khmer restaurants in Siem Reap is not only the presentation of the food, but also the creative and extensive vegan menu. Try the meat ball lok lak or the plant bases sausage roll. Starters are around $3 dollar, while main courses are in the $8 range. It is (for now) open every day from 11am to 10 PM.

Battambang sausage as Jomno — Jomno, one of the best Khmer restaurants in Siem Reap

Banllee – vegetarian Khmer food

We think it’s time to make a change, so this vegetarian restaurant is also on the list even if they aren’t serving some of the traditional Khmer meat dishes. The restaurant is located in Street 26 and survived Covid-19 with a focus in vegetarian Khmer food – a good decision. Banlle has some other dishes as well, but if you a craving for Khmer noodles, this is the place to go.

Out top favorite is the vegetarian Prahok Ktis. Prahok is a Khmer fish paste, and at Banlle they make it from fermented tofu. An absolute delight with fresh vegetables on the side. Talking about veggies: Many of them are grown in the garden, and you may watch the chef cutting your greens before preparing the food for you. Prices are in the $3 to $5 US-Dollar range. Opening times are 7am – 9pm, Tuesday they are closed.

The Christa – family owned restaurant near Pub Street

The owner Rak moved his restaurant from behind Wat Damnak to the street 7 right behind Pub street. It is a shop house with steep steps to reach the first floor, but a great place to watch people go by. There is even a rooftop with tables.

The Christa offers affordable Khmer food in a wide range. Our favorites are the machu ktis, a dish with tamarind sauce and the Cha Kreung, mixed vegetables with Khmer spice paste. The kitchen offers all main Khmer dishes, like Amok and beef stew, but we would recommend some less known meals, like the Khmer curry. We like that you can choose if you want meat or tofu for most dishes. They do have good cocktails as well. Opening times are every day from 11.30am to 10 pm.

Temple coffee ‘n bakery – one of the best Khmer restaurants in Siem Reap

The Temple group owns nowadays half of Pub street, but the venue at the riverside is less popular with tourists – but great when it comes to Khmer food. You can go there for breakfast and enjoy a well done fried rice with pork (somehow called school children breakfast) or for lunch or dinner some of the more fancy dishes.

They are popular with younger people, in particular in the evening. What stands out are the comfortable lounges upstairs and the rooftop bar with a pool – best place for sunset. The quality was never an issue for us in the last six years, but they did raise the prices. Expect $5 to $9 for a dish. Recommended are the Khmer noodles and the Prahok Ktis.

Tevy’s place

Tevy started her restaurant as a basic street food stall between the two Wat Damnak temple areas. Just before the Covid-19 pandemic she moved to street 7 and opened a new place. She is a hardworking woman, employing a few Khmer women now and became very popular with expats in Siem Reap. Her food is all freshly made, she has Khmer dishes but also offers some western food. You should try her fish amok and her Samlor Koko, a traditional Khmer soup. It’s open everyday from 730 am to 9.30 pm.

What else? Some others of the best restaurants in Siem Reap

With close to 1,000 restaurants and eateries, picking just the 5 best Khmer restaurants in Siem Reap is not an easy task. Most other places offer good local food as well. We can recommend Khmer Kitchen and Khmer Grill as a well as Haven. The latter has also lovely vegetarian and vegan dishes and is a training restaurant – you eat for a good cause there.

Another runner-up is Romsai cafe next to the Salakamreuk village office. But if you want to try Fish Amok, one of the popular dishes, we have to recommend you Ms. Laum, one of our hosts in Siem Reap. She will show you how it’s made and share the meal with you. It is an extraordinary food experience!

If you would like to know more about Khmer food, check out our YouTube Channel and follow us on TikTok (@dinewiththelocals). You can reach us through the booking form on the host pages as well as through Telegram and WhatsApp. Or just send an email to feedme@dinewiththelocals.com.

Durian fruits at a vendors cart in Siem Reap

How to eat durian in Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on 05/31/2022. Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, Food adventure, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Siem Reap, Uncategorized.

Durian, also know as stinky fruit or The King of fruits, is an eatable fruit of a certain species of tree in Asia. It’s famous for the strong odor, but also for it delicious creamy texture. In Cambodia you can buy durian at most local markets as well as from street vendors. Durian is usually farmed in Kampot, Kampng Cham and around Battambang. Many fruits are imported from Thailand and Vietnam as well.

Durian is different from jackfruit. The latter is a much bigger fruit with smaller spikes and a different, more sweeter taste. The prices depend on the season and quality. You can get them starting from 13.000 riel per kg (about $3.50) all the way up to 20.000 riel ($5). Most stalls have a fix price, although there is a small margin for bargaining.

Where to buy durian in Siem Reap?

Most people will direct you to the roundabout on Apsara road near the Sokha hotel. Many vendors have their cars lined up on the street. Most markets have stalls as well – just follow the smell. And that’s why supermarkets rarely sell it.

Can I take durian back to my hotel?

The simple answer is no. Hotels will not allow even locals to bring durian inside the premise or rooms. It’s also banned in buses and planes.

Where to eat it?

It is common to eat durian in the tuktuk on the way to Angkor Wat or other places to visit in Siem Reap. Cambodians know how to picknick, so they will just stop somewhere, sit in the shadow of a tree and enjoy durian and other fruits and food they bought on the way.

How to eat durian?

When you buy it on the street, ask the seller to open the fruit and take the eatable pieces out. They usually give you a box for it. Some sell the inner parts of the flesh (normally for a higher price). In the markets you may see them selling durian with sticky rice and coconut milk. There is also ice cream made from durian and dried durian chips.

When eating you may use plastic gloves of a fork. Once you have contact with your skin, the smell may stay for a while, even after washing your hands. Also be aware of the seed inside – it cannot be eaten raw. But you can bake them until soft.

The outside skin (the one with the spikes) can be used as traditional local medicine. They say it helps for the pain during a women’s period. The skin is dried and then boiled with water.

What is Fish amok? It is steamed for 20 minutes

A guide to: what is fish amok – the famous food in Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on 05/31/2022. Posted in cooking class, Food adventure, food in Cambodia, Khmer food, Siem Reap.

When you travel through Cambodia there is no way you can avoid fish amok. It’s offered in most restaurants, but it’s not an everyday dish in families. We wrote a guide about this typical food – you will learn what is fish amok and how is it made.

What is Cambodian Fish Amok?

What is Fish Amok? (known as amok trey in Khmer)

Cambodia has so many well known traditional dishes. Amok is one of the national food examples of Cambodia. There are many local ways of cooking this delicacy. Depending on the region, some traditional amoks are cooked steamed in a banana leaf basket or a simple wrap. Some use only little coconut milk while other put in a whole can. Also the steamers can be different.

Authentic Cambodian Fish Amok: a brief history.

Amok is widely distributed in Cambodia. It is a type of curry made from a basic kroeung paste such as lemongrass, ginger finger root, turmeric, kaffir lime, garlic and fish paste.

Following the history of Cambodia, where the capital was in the north without access to the sea, it is made from river fish or catfish. Because of the short distance to Angkor Wat most fishes came from the Tonle Sap Lake – Asia biggest fresh water lake

Amok was one of the Royal Khmer dishes in the past. It dates back to the Khmer Empire during the 9th to 15th centuries under King Jayavarman II.

During the Khmer Rouge regime, war happened in 1970 and had killed 1.7 million people across Cambodia. After the fall of Khmer Rouge many cultural traditions have been lost. The country wanted to reinstate them, and food played an important role. Then amok was brought back on the table again. Despite, Cambodians do not eat amok very often, they usually enjoy it as a celebration dish for special occasions only.

Fish amok: how to cook it

If you want to learn how to make fish amok, you can follow the recipes below. But a much better choice is to learn it from a local. Our host Ms. Laum makes the propabley best fish amok in Siem Reap. She knows how to extract milk from coconut flesh (because she also makes delicious waffles form it), has her own noni tree right behind the house and cooks amok in a very traditional way she learned from her neighbors in the countryside decades ago.

Authentic Cambodian Fish Amok Recipes

The home cooking version.

1. Make kroeung paste from lemongrass, ginger finger root, turmeric, kaffir lime slices (small and thin pieces) add some peeled garlic.

2. Slice catfish or river fish in medium pieces.

3. Soak dried red chili until soft and mince them well. Cambodian cuisine is less spicy, so if you are looking for a strong chili kick, just add a bit more.

4. Thinly slice the noni leaves (you can use kaffir lime leaves as well).

5. Once the kroeung paste is prepared, add some minced fish paste (BrorHok), minced chili and pound them together until well mixed, smooth and fine.

6. Coconut milk is one of the essential ingredients of amok. In the previous time people squeezing coconut flesh to get coconut milk. Nowadays, you can just get the ready one in a can.

7. Coconut milk and kroeung paste and noni leave are marinated together. Add some seasoning such as palm sugar and fish sauce depending on your taste. Add the fish in.

8. Once you have made your fish curry mix, you should spoon it into banana leaf basket.

9. Boiling the water in the pot, Steam amok in banana leaf basket for 20-30mins is well cooked, taste and serve immediately.

INGREDIENTS

– 100g noni leaves or kaffier lime leaves
– 1 kg Cat/River fish
– 1 Teaspoon fish paste
– 2 Teaspoon salt
– 200g Kroeung paste
– 1Teaspoon palm/white sugar
– 300ml coconut milk.

Authentic Cambodian Fish Amok Recipes Restaurant’s Cooked.

1. Sprinkle salt and pepper to both sides of the fish fillet.

2. Prepare mixed vegetables such as carrot, eggplants, potato, sweet potato, long beans.

3. Thinly slice the noni leaves or kaffir lime leaves.

4. Heat a large saucepan over medium high heat.

5. Stir kreung paste bought from the market until golden brown.

6. Add palm sugar, fish sauce, hard vegetables (the type of vegetable that takes longer to cook) and the fish. Cook and stir for 2mins and then add the coconut milk and water if necessary. Slimmer for a few minutes.

7. Half way through the cooking process add the remaining vegetables with noni leaves.

8. Once the amok is cooked, beat the egg in the bowl and add it in the amok.

9. Let it cook for a few more seconds. Add salt to the taste and serve in coconut fruit or banana leaf basket.

INGREDIENTS

– 300g mixed vegetables ( carrot, eggplant, potato, long bean..)
– 100g noni leaves or Swiss chard leaves
– 400g river fish fillet
– 2Tbsp amok paste
– 2Tbsp cooking oil
– 3Tbsp fish sauce
– 1Tbsp palm sugar
– 400ml coconut milk
– 1 whole egg
– Salt and pepper

Join Dary and Hum Choeurn for a cooking class in their home in Siem Reap

Two new food adventures in Siem Reap

Written by André Ruys on 05/27/2022. Posted in cooking class, Food adventure, kids friendly, Siem Reap.

While slowly coming back, we already found two new host families to take part in the Dine With The Locals network of food adventures. An we can assure you great food and unforgettable experiences. Both families live in Siem Reap, both build new house, yet they look quite different. So are the experiences we always add to the adventure.

Food adventure and a fishing net

Learn how to throw a Cambodian fishing net

Mr. Chantry is a driver we know for quite a while. His wife Sokvy usually stays at home, cooks and takes care of the kids. She is ideal to join us, since out goal is to empower women and help them to get an additional income. Part of the food adventures is to cook Tek Kreung, made from cooked fish and roasted vegetables. A delight for mouth and eyes. After your meal Chantry will show you how to use the tradional Cambodian fishing net. Chantry will also pick you up and bring you back to your hotel in his rickshaw – a three wheeler replacing tuktuks in Cambodia now.

Lots of herbs and lovely gifts

Ms. Dary lives in the southern part of Siem Reap with her husband and two boys. She worked in a hotel before, and has a good eye for decoration as well as food. Her house is a more modern style, yet you will cook local food and eat – part of the food adventure – on the floor in a mat. But before you have to pick some ivy leaves and lemon form the tree. The food highlight is Nam Ban Chok, fresh rice noodles, eat with chicken and lots of herbs.

Our first full vegetarian option food adventures

Since Ms. Dary is very experienced, she can offer all three dishes suitable for vegetarians. We will replace meat with tofu and mushrooms, and if you want, even don‘t use fish sauce (although its an important ingredient).

After your meal you will learn how to make gifts like bracelets or coasters from palm leaves – which you have to cut yourself just form the garden opposite the house.

You can book your food adventures with a local family on our website or send us a whats app message. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Street food in Siem Reap you should not miss

Written by André Ruys on 09/26/2020. Posted in Food adventure, Kambodscha, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

Everyone is talking about street food in Siem Reap, but only few actually know where to get the best dishes. As food lovers our team went out for dinner to our favorite places in Siem Reap, and some of them are not on the usual bucket list for tourists.

The riverside stalls in Siem Reap

Beside the stalls on road 60 the riverside from Wat Preah Rath all the way down to the roundabout opposite the cinema provides a large selection of street food. You get grilled chicken and pork, squid and other seafood as well as classics like fried rice and fish amok. The stalls south of the police post at the bridge are usually more touristy, while locals eat at the stalls north of the old market. One of our favorites is nearly at the end of the line and run bu a couple, who worked here for four years. This stall has probably the best pork rips and chicken legs, but serves also a rare delicacy: steamed cow brain with mushrooms. The soup is quite famous in Cambodia, but only few stalls actually serve it.

Street food at Road 60

Opposite the Angkor Wat ticket counter is another street food in Siem Reap paradise, although not the best place for vegetarians. In the early afternoon this part of road 60 starts to fill with vendors pushing their carts and unfolding tables and stands. Within an hour the first grills are up and running. at some places you van buy take away, others have some plastic chairs and tables when you can sit and enjoy grilled chicken, fish, meatballs and of course lots of fried insects. The area is popular with locals, and most vendors don’t speak English. Best is to just point on something and ask how much (“Bon man”) They will usually tell you the price in dollar.

Street food in Siem Reap by Ms. Hong Ginlai

One of our most booked food experiences was making street food in the morning at the restaurant of Ms. Hong Ginlai. She moved her stall in 2020 from the behind the provincial hospital to the street where the high school is located. And she got so busy, that unfortunately she can’t cook with tourists anymore. However, you can still watch her making lots dishes and of corse try them.

Every day she prepares up to 15 dishes, from sour soup to Koh Kor, fried fish cakes and her signature dish, prahok ktis. She is open from 8 am until everything is sold out, usually around 5pm. While she doesn’t speak English, ordering dishes is simpel: just point on the dish you want to eat. One of the most authentic street food in Siem Reap experiences.

The best Num Pang (Banh Mi) in Siem Reap

This Num Pang Saik Ko ang street food in Siem Reap shop is here since 30 years — This Num Pang Saik Ko ang shop is here since 30 years

The marinade recipe was developed by the grandmother

If you haven been to Vietnam, you most likely had a banh mi, the sandwich with pate and beef or chicken and some pickeled vegetables. Cambodia has its own version called Num Pang pate, but there is also a sandwich with grilled beef which is then Num Pang Saik Ko Ang. One place near wat Damnak is famous for it grilled beef sandwiches, it on the corner where Rabutan Lane starts and where the Khmer Grill was once. This small restaurant sells the sandwiches since 30 years. What makes it so special is the marinade. Its the old recipe developed by the grandmother. The stall opens late afternoon, around 5pm and you cannot miss it, just stop where all the motobikes are parked.

Khmer waffles made by Ms. Laum, best street food in Siem Reap

Another of our hosts, Ms. Laum, is also a street food seller, but for the sweet tooth. She makes some of the best Khmer waffles, Num Pom, in Siem Reap. She uses not only coconut milk, but als fresh grated coconut flesh, and prepares the batter every morning in her home, You can find her on Sivutha road, where the pub street starts, from 8am until she sold out. In case she isn’t there, another alternative is the stall under the big tree opposite Amazon cafe on the river side.

5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020

Written by André Ruys on 08/16/2020. Posted in Food adventure, Kambodscha, Siem Reap, Uncategorized.

You don’t have to walk around in Siem Reap for long to discover a small coffee stand on a street corner. Locals in Cambodia have discovered their love for coffee and many have opened their own coffee shops. Due to the Covid pandemic many cafes and restaurants have had to close, but a new one has opened. We have looked at the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap in 2020. They all belong to Cambodians as well.

Romsai Cafe

A little below the Sarai Hotel at the junction of Salakamreuk and Sombai Road is the Romsai Cafe. It is truly an oasis, as the owner has made a point of ensuring that the ambience here is dominated by many plants. You can get different kinds of coffee, but also local food. The coffee is roasted in Cambodia, the beans are from Asian farmers. Try the coconut coffee!

Romsai is one of the 5 best coffeeshops in Siem Reap

Order suggestions:

Coconut Coffee
Cafe Latte
Noodle soup with beef

Opening hours:
Daily from 7am to 6pm

Price: $

Noir Cafe is one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020

Noir started with a small corner in a minimart of a hostel. Meanwhile there are three branches in Siem Reap and three in Phnom Penh. The charm lies in the decoration, all coffee shops have something of industrial design, the owner Sotheara Tit has put a lot of effort into the interior design. There is also food here and one speciality is egg noodles and wontons, which are made according to Sotheara’s grandmother’s recipe.

Noir is one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020

Order suggestions:

Milk with egg
Cafe Latte
Noodle soup with wonton

Locations:
Diagonally opposite the Park Hyatt
Road 6/Tela petrol station Royal Garden
Road 6/Lokthaneuy Road

Opening hours:
Daily from 7am to 6pm

Price:
$

Biolab: One of the best coffeeshops in Siem Reap to work

The small café was founded in 2018 and has slowly but surely developed into a meeting place for digital nomads and one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020. The owner Samnang dared something by setting up the cafe a bit like a laboratory. You still get some drinks served here in a glass flask. On the two floors you can work in peace on your laptop, you can also rent a meeting room and even a small office. Meanwhile the coffee is roasted by yourself. Biolab also has a branch at Sa Srang in the Angkor Wat complex.

Order suggestions:

Passionfruit soda
Espresso

Location
Wat Bo road/street 22
Opening hours: Daily 7am -9pm

Price: $$

Temple Coffee n Bakery: Most comfortable of the best coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020

Temple Bakery is one of the most comfortable coffeeshops in Siem Reap

After Lee Kong Srin and Lee Kong Vong, the founders of the legendary club in the pub street in Siem Reap, became more and more successful, they started a new project right at the river. The Temple Bakery has three floors, from here you can enjoy the sunset from the roof. On the ground floor and the first floor there are super comfortable lounges where you can relax.

Order suggestions:

Prahok Ktis
Coffee latte
Cocktails

Price: $

Opening hours:
7am-11pm

Location:

Street 25 at the river

Madame Cafe

Actually, it’s just a little shack with a coffee machine in it. But the Madama Cafe on the river has become so popular with locals that sometimes there can even be traffic problems. You are sitting here directly at the Siem Reap River, among flowers and trees. The coffee is cheap, and you can also buy smoothies and even baked goods.

Order suggestion

Iced coffee
Cinnamon Rolls

Opening hours:
7am-9pm
Price: $

Location: Riverside street, corner street 27

Brown Coffee

The most successful Cambodian coffeeshop company is Brown

When the Chang Bunleang and the other young founders of Brown Coffee opened their first shop in Phnom Penh in 2009, nobody believed that they would one day become the largest chain in Cambodia. The entrepreneurs started with 10 employees, today 700 people work in 21 stores. In Siem Reap there is a cafe next to the Treeline Hotel on the river and a larger one at the end of Tapul Road. At Brown, the coffee is roasted by themselves and there is also very tasty food. It is for sure one of the 5 best local coffeeshops in Siem Reap 2020.

Order suggestion

Coffee latte
Chocolate frappe
English Breakfast sandwich

Price: $$

Opening hours: 6.30am -10pm

Location: Treeline Hotel and Tapul road/Road6

Independence Monument Phnom Penh, a visit is on thing of what to do in Cambodia

The best reasons to travel (now) to Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on 02/27/2020. Posted in cooking class, Food adventure, Khmer culture, Siem Reap, Uncategorized.

Even if travel is right now not on everyone’s priority list, there are good reasons to book or start a trip to Cambodia now. We tell you the 5 best reasons to travel to Cambodia.

1. favourable prices, good connections

Cambodia is one of the few countries where there are no cases of Covid 19 virus. This makes it a safe country to travel to, and at present prices are also quite low. The government has not only given tax breaks to hotels, but also extended the validity of tickets for Angkor Wat until the end of June. The one-day ticket is now valid for 2 days, the three-day ticket is valid for 5 days. This gives travelers even more time to explore the temples and the surrounding area.

In addition, the Arab airline Emirates now flies directly to Phnom Penh, so that if you are coming from Europe you no longer have to change planes in Bangkok or other cities. Qatar Airways will even fly directly to Siem Reap from the end of the year.

2. rich culture

Sam peah, the Khmer greeting for older people

The Cambodian culture is one of the oldest still existing cultures and formed the basis for the Thai and Lao culture. The Khmer empire was once larger than that of Charlemagne and even today the country is rich in cultural offerings. Most famous is of course the temple of Angkor Wat, there are also many other sights. A small insider tip is Banteay Chhmar, about 3 hours west of Siem Reap. Here a Khmer temple is maintained by the village community, which also offers travelers to stay overnight in the village and eat together.
In Siem Reap as well as in Phnom Penh and in Battambang, art scenes of modern local artists are developing and are attracting more and more attention. They take up historical themes like the Khmer Empire and the reign of terror of the Khmer Rouge, but also modern developments like climate change and pollution.

3. great food is one of the best reasons to travel to Cambodia

Cambodian cuisine was already established in its basic features during the reign of King Jayawarman II, who also ruled the Khmer Empire in its greatest expansions. It has influences from India, but contains many local spices and ingredients. Fish is one of the most important ingredients because it was an easy source of protein. Today there are also very tasty fish dishes, such as a meat stew and the famous Beef Lok Lak. Increasingly, vegetarian dishes are also available. In Cambodia many different soups – Samlor – are cooked, ranging from a sour broth to a creamy curry. Grilled meat is also popular, which travelers can also buy at street stalls. Those who like it exotic can also try stuffed frogs and fried insects.

4. enchanting landscapes

If you travel between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap by car or bus you will get a first impression of the landscape. Along the National Road 6 there are rice fields which sometimes reach up to the horizon. But Cambodia has even more to offer, for example the forests in Norng Kabat in Ratanakiri province. Here you can still see wild animals and untouched nature, as well as breathtaking waterfalls and hidden ponds where you can fish.

5. meet nice people

Meeting people is one of the best reasons to travel to Cambodia

If you are traveling in a group or with other tourists, you will sometimes not have time to get in touch with locals. Thereby, one gets a much better insight into the culture of the country and the different habits. At Dine With The Locals you will meet Cambodian families and spend a few hours together. They cook and eat together, but also have time to visit the family’s home and the surrounding area and to exchange ideas.

The food adventure with local families

Written by André Ruys on 02/16/2020. Posted in Eat in Vietnam, Food adventure, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

We were recently thinking how we describe our service. The best way to do that is a brainstorming session, so we took our post its and wrote down words who came in mind related to what Dine with the locals is actually doing. The result was “The food adventure with local families”. We think this and our name really tells our story. It is not just having a meal with a local family. It is not a cooking class or a food tour. We offer a food adventure, because every host is different, every menu is different and every environment is different.

Our food adventure with local families bring you to new places

Why food adventure with local families?

Diversity and variety is what drives us. We want you as a traveler to be open and curious, without to many expectations but looking forward to a new experience. We have now 20 hosts in Cambodia and Vietnam, and every adventure is unique. Sometimes you spend a lot of time just chatting, like with Vannak Khun, a contemporary artist. Or you explore the hidden valleys in Saigon and discover Thun and his family in her house. You meet Ms. Laum, who tries to make a living form selling Khmer waffles on the side of the street or find the way through the forest to Vannariths house. You join Panha in Phnom Penh whi will take you to the village where she grew up. You buy food at a market in Stueng Treng in the northeast near the Lao border.

Unforgettable moments and a great adventure

And you always make new friends and create memories. The food adventure with local families means you will experience a new and different environment, a new culture and new customs. At the same time it is a safe thing to do, no zipline or rock-climbing involved.Our hosts have clean homes and clean food as well, nothing to worry about.