Khmer culture Archives - Dine With The Locals

The rainy season in Cambodia is also a green season

Rainy season in Cambodia: Best time to travel in 2022

Written by André Ruys on 09/21/2022. Posted in Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Kochkurs in Kambodscha, Siem Reap, Siem Reap Höhepunkte.

Asia is well known for its hot weather, beaches and lush landscapes. A common misconception is the rainy season: We call it the green season here, because Southeast-Asia will look much more beautiful.

Cambodia is located on the south-western part of the Indochina peninsula and has only two seasons, the rainy season in Cambodia and the dry season. The so-called rainy season will start in May and last until October while the dry season will start from November and usually ends in April. Cambodian people love the rainy season more than the dry season because it is the season that farmers can work on the fields and harvest rice and vegetables. The rain will be favorable for the fields. Also you can save money since the price for hotels are often lower than in other seasons.

You may think that the dry season would be the only season to travel in Cambodia. A misbelief is that during the rainy season in Cambodia people get sick and you may think there is nothing to do and you have to stay in the hotel room. In fact, it is not like that, you can get very unique experiences when you travel in the rainy season in Cambodia.

It doesn’t rain every day, and most times rain happens in the night or in the afternoon. There are only a few days when the rain doesn’t stop. More common is a heavy, 30 minute rain shower and right after it blue sky again.

Angkor Wat during the rainy season in Cambodia

What to know about the rainy season in Cambodia

In the rainy season, Cambodia has two traditional ceremonies, Pchum Benh in September and the water festival in November. These ceremonies will make your trip even more wonderful. During the rainy season in Cambodia can attend the water festival or you can see what people will do on Pchum Benh day. You can get a taste of the traditional cake that is made only on the special ceremony day.

More than this you will see a beautiful landscape with flowers blooming and green fields. Also you can experience fresh air and pleasant weather when visiting Angkor Wat. It is possible that there are fewer tourists in this season, so it is time for you to enjoy your time at the temples without too much noise. You do not have to rush or wait in the long line to buy a ticket for visiting a temple.

After a heavy rainfall you may see Cambodians riding a boat on the deeper flooded places to move, what might look a bit strange for those not used to it. But even flooding after rain will retreat in less than an hour.

Best activities for the rainy season in Cambodia

Need more activities? Here are some indoor activities to do: Visit a museum. In Phnom Penh there is the National museum, but also less known museum like the one about currency. You can visit some of the art galleries showing contemporary and traditional Cambodian art tour, or find yourself at a coffee shop and enjoy the sound of rain. What makes you get more and more experience is cooking and dining with local people. Dine with the locals will give you an experience of cooking and eating with locals. Not only cook and eat, you also can learn about something new that you never did or knew about from the host.

So do not worry anymore about traveling in Cambodia in the rainy season, what you have to do is prepare things such as a raincoat, slippers, umbrella and mosquito spray. Then it is time to start your rainy season trip to Cambodia to experience both culture and food.

The best Cambodian sweet and sour soup in 2022

Written by André Ruys on 08/10/2022. Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, Experience Cambodia, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Khmer food, Kochkurs, Kochkurs in Kambodscha, Uncategorized.

Since I was young, I liked the taste of sour food, from pickles to fruits and dishes. When I felt not well, I’d like to eat sour dishes – they made me somehow feel stronger and awake. The Cambodian sweet and sour soup (in Khmer called Samlor machu trey) is special, since it also contains chili. Once they kicked it, I sometimes started sweating – kind of natural body cleansing. Mostly I cooked this soup on Sundays when I was a student, when our family wanted to give my mother a break from daily house duties. Still, she handed me a list with ingredients I bought at the local market.

Soup was the first I ever cooked, I still remember– an easy one with potatoes and mushroom and carrots.

Cambodian sweet and sour soup is one of the popular dishes for Khmer

Cambodian cuisine is more diverse than some may think. If we talk about Khmer food and what people cook for daily life, we will think of one kind of Khmer soups (called Samlor). The Cambodian sweet and sour soup is one of the popular dishes, easy and fast to prepare and healthy.

People use different kinds of vegetables and fish to make it, like rice fields craps or small shrimps, to make sweet and sour soup in many types. For the simple one we can use green papaya pieces, water lily, morning glory, the core of the banana stem and winter melon. If you cook sweet and sour soup in Cambodia with kreung ( the traditional Khmer spice paste) and coconut milk, and you want to add vegetable, morning glory is a popular one to add, usually without shrimps.

We call it then samlor machu kreoung. The important ingredient that we should not miss is prahok, the infamous Khmer fermented fish paste, and sour fruit. Sour fruit could be tamarind, lime or lucidas fruit.

One of the secrets why Cambodian sweet and sour soup is so popular lies in the ingredients. They are easy to find, often just around the house. The soup is an every day dish, found regularly on many lunch tables in Khmer houses. Enjoy our virtual cooking class here!

How to make sweet and sour soup (classic style)

Ingredients for classic Cambodian sweet and sour soup

Fish
Morning glory
Garlic
Galangal
Prahok or fish sauce
Salt
Sugar
Seasoning
Tamarind / lemon/krosang fruit
Rice paddy herb or holy basil
Chili

How to cook it

Clean the fish

Clean the morning glory

Clean the fish using first water and then salt and clean morning glory, then cut into pieces. (If you are vegetarian, use fried tofu cubes instead)
Peel of garlic, slice galangal, put tamarind into a bowl, smash it an add a bit of hot water to make sour sauce.
Put prahok in a bowl of hot water and pour into the pot while the water is boiling. If prahok is to intense, use fish sauce. For a vegetarian option use mushroom sauce. Then add tamarind sauce, garlic and galangal.
After the water boiled for about 10 minutes, add fish cubes (as well as crap and small shrimps, if you want to add).
Once the fish is cooked and soft add the vegetables, salt, sugar, seasoning and a bit of fish sauce.
Lastly, put rice paddy herb or holy basil, chilly and its done.

Sweet and sour soup in Cambodia with kreung spice paste

There is no right or wrong with using kreung paste for the soup, it just gives a more intense taste.

Ingredients:

Ingredients (for 4-6 people)

fish 1kilogram
lemongrass 4 pieces
Dried chilly 3 pieces
Turmeric 1 small piece (2 cm)
Galangal 1 small piece (1.5 cm)
Kaffir lime 3 leaves
Lucidas fruit 3-4 depend on size (can be replaced with lemon)
3 long peppers
Prahok 30g
Fish sauce 1 tablespoon
•Garlic 1 glove
Seasoning 1teaspoon
Salt 1/2 tablespoon
Sugar palm 1/2 tablespoon

Steps to make it:

Clean fish with salt and cut to pieces.
Slice lemon grass, garlic, turmeric galangal add a bit of salt and punch until smooth.
Squeeze a lucida fruit into a bowl, add minced prohok, slice pepper into small pieces.
Mince and soak dried chilli .
Mix fish, kreoung, prahok, squeezed lucidas fruit or lemon, palm sugar, fish sauce and seasoning into a pot add a bit of water stir gently.
Start heating on medium heat, keep boiling for 5 mins then add 1/4 cup of water
Simmer until fish is cooked.
Add kraffir lime leaves to taste
Lastly add slices of peppers.

In Cambodia, a soup is usually served with rice. Some families will also add some herbs and fresh vegetables, whatever is handy. If you are invited or visit one of our hosts, you would pour the soup in a bowl, then get a small plate with rice. You can pour soup over the rice or just eat both separately.

Author: Mealea Kong

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.

How to make the best Khmer Curry (Samlor curry)

Written by André Ruys on 06/23/2022. Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, food in Cambodia, Khmer culture, Khmer food, Uncategorized.

When we talk about food in Asia, Khmer curry (Samlor curry) as well as Thai and Indian curry is one of the first dishes that comes into our minds. The Khmer empire ruled once over large parts of what is today south-east Asia. As you can still see at the ancient site of Angkor Wat (which was built as a Hindu temple first), the culture was influenced by the Hindu religion and Indian food. One dish that remembers one of the culinary roots is Khmer curry. It combines spices brought from priests and business people to the kingdom with local ingredients.

Khmer Curry: Home made — Khmer Curry: Homemade

Cambodian food – as you will see in our cooking classes at Dine With The Locals – has two major ingredients special to the country: Kreung, a spice paste, and prahok, fermented fish. But are part of a long tradition of food in Cambodia. Prahok was used not only to give the food a certain taste. It was a way to store protein – from fish – in areas where there was drought or not much access to rivers and lakes. The Khmer curry combines all of them into a mild dish, found nearly everywhere in the country.

Khmer curry is not spicy

Other than Thai curries, the Khmer curry is not spicy at all. The reason: When Khmer food was developed during the Jayavarman period, chili was not yet known in the region. It came later from South-America. Cambodian food is usually more sweet, because palm sugar is a main ingredient. Other spices used are lemon grass, galangal, ginger and other roots.

Ingredients for an authentic Khmer curry

1/2 Chicken
2 big cubes of blood curd
1.5 cup coconut milk
Kreuong paste (make it yourself or buy a at the market)
Fresh chilli, soaked in water
1 Onion
1 Sweet potato
3 tbs red curry powder
1 tspPrahok
1 tbp Palm sugar
Fish sauce to taste
1 cup water
Oil

Vegetarian Khmer curry

6 small cubes tofu
1.5 cup coconut milk
Kreuong paste (make it yourself or buy at the market)
Fresh chilli, soaked in water
1 Onion
1 Sweet potato
3 tbs red curry powder
1 tbp Palm sugar
Mushroom saucee
Oil

How to make a delicious Khmer curry

As with the more yellow Indian curry powder the red Khmer curry powder is rarely made fresh anymore. Most people buy it at the market. The main ingredients are Chili Powder, Turmeric, Black Pepper, Star Anise, Fennel Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Coriander and Cumin, although some may change the list a bit. Most important is that only a bit of chili is used – it should not be too spicy.

Clean the chicken and blood curd (slice the chicken if you want)
Cut the sweet potato in slices, as well as the onion
Heat the oil
Add chilli paste first, then prahok
Add kreung paste
Stir until fragant
Stir in palm sugar, let it melt
Add seasoning and fish sauce
now add either chicken and bloog curd or tofu.
Stir and add water
Heat up until the water starts boiling
Simmer for 5 minutes
Add cocount milk
Heat it up then add onion and sweet potato
Let it simmer until potato is soft
Serve with rice, rice noodles or bread

How to cook fish amok at home

Written by André Ruys on 06/07/2022. Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Kochkurs in Kambodscha, Uncategorized.

One of the most famous dishes in Cambodia is fish amok. It’s a kind of curry, but with a very local twist when it comes to spices used in it. Many restaurants offer it, at Cambodian homes it is mostly cooked vor special occasions. If you want to know how to cook fish amok at home, just follow our guide. We got the advise from our host Ms. Laum, who cooks on of the best fish amok in Siem Reap.

What do you need for fish amok?

The dish is made from fish, species and coconut milk. It dates back to the times of the Khmer empire, and recipes have changed over time. For fish you can use freshwater fish, from tilapia to any carps or catfish. Best get a fillet at the market. The secret ingredient of fish amok is the Cambodian fish paste know as kreung. It contains lemongrass, galangal, tumeric, kaffir lime and garlic. Depending on your taste you can add any amount of chili to it.

In Cambodia people will nut fresh coconut milk at the market, but a canned one will do it as well. Also, the original recipe requires no i tree leaves. They can be replaced with kaffir lime leaves.

Steaming or cooking?

There are two main ways of cooking fish amok. Or host Ms. Laum told people when asked how to cook fish amok at home that you can use a steamer or a pot. She herself steamed it for a while but now changed to just simmer it. The taste is basically the same, steamed fish amok is sometimes a bit more solid, in particular when egg was added.

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.

If you want to make kreung by yourself, just combine finely sliceed lemongrass, ginger finger root, turmeric, kaffir lime slices (small and thin pieces) add some peeled garlic. Put them in a blender or mortar and blend until its a fine paste. You can also buy kreung at the market.

How to cook fish amok at home in 45 minutes

Preparation:

1. Salt the fish and cut into cubes

2. Slice noni or kaffir lime leaves in fine stripes

3. Mix kreung paste with sliced chilli.

4. Add fish paste (fermented fish, in Cambodia known as prahok) and mix together.

5. add coconut milk and mix well.

6. The add the dish and mix again.

7. Transfer it to a pot. You may want to add brown or palm sugar and fish sauce.

8. Heat up with the lit closed unti it boils. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes. If you have noni tree leaves, you can put some pieces on top.

9. Serve with rice.

Even Cambodians learn again how to make fish amok at home

Since most ingredients, in particular kreung paste is nowadays available already mixed at markets, fish amok gets slowly back to the dining tables of Cambodians. Modern middle class families don’t have the time to squeeze coconut flesh in order to get the milk out of it. They just buy as much ingredients as they can an the market or supermarket. Some don’t even know how to make fish amok with a steamerwith a steamer at home any more – so they found a simpler way to cook it for the family.

If you want to make it while in Siem Reap, book this experience with Ms. Laum here. She will take you to all the steps and you have to work a bit before getting a yummy dinner in a local home in Cambodia.

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.

Learn how to throw a Cambodian fishing net

We are back: Enjoy food adventures with locals families in Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on 05/20/2022. Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, Experience Cambodia, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Khmer food, Siem Reap.

We had rough two years, but now we are back. Dine With The Locals will continue to connect travelers with local families in Cambodia (and in two cities in Vietnam) and provide great food adventures. We are finishing our process to update our lists of host and started to onboard new hosts.

Our food adventures are more than a cooking class

Say hello to Ms. Sokvy, who lives in the outskirts of Siem Reap, next to rice fields, with her husband and her kids. While Mr. Chantry is buy as a driver (he will pick you up and bring you back when you book with us), she is taking care of the house. We visited her recently and consulted the family regarding food and activity selection. Expect one of the best dishes in Cambodia, Tek Kreung, and lean how to make this thick soup (some call it a paste) made of pea eggplants and river fish.

You will also learn how locals go fishing (no animals harmed during this experience): Mr. Chantry will show you how to throw a fishing net. It is traditionally used for fishing in ponds, but also in shallow waters like the Tonlesap lake (Asias biggest lake).

Good bye to some great hosts

We had some amazing hosts during the last three years, providing authentic food adventures and great experiences. It’s no surprise, that some changed location and work during the pandemic. First of all, all of the host families survived the crises and are doing good. But some found new jobs, moved to Phnom Penh or other cities.

One hosts made a remarkable progress: Ms Hong Ginlai, who runs a food stall in Siem Reap. When we started with her, guests could prepare street food in the morning in a made shift stall. She later had to move – what turned out to be a great opportunity. She told us, that she has to pause now taking guests for food adventures because she is too busy. We could not be more happy to see her being so successfull. Watch our video and see what you have missed.

Finding more food adventures in Cambodia

After we have updated our current list of hosts we will find more soon. Ms. Sokvy is just the first. We are looking for more families in Battambang and in and around Phnom Peng now. To be a host at Dine With The Locals, a family needs to provide a menu with three local dishes as well as a interesting experience beside cooking with guests.

Ms. Kaum provides an amazing food adventure in Siem Reap

And one more thing: You may hav noticed that we had to increase our prices. This is due rising costs for food in Cambodia, but also for our operations. Host get the biggest share of what you pay, because our main goal is to eatable women to earn money in their home and provide a great food adventure for foreign guests.

Cambodian crispy rice with pork floss

Written by André Ruys on 09/28/2021. Posted in cooking class, eat in Siem Reap, eat with locals, Experience Cambodia, food in Cambodia, Khmer culture, Khmer food, News and Updates, Online-Experience, Siem Reap.

Rice is something like the staple food in Cambodia. It is served at every meal. Most people eat regular cooked rice, but there are also variations, for example in delicious desserts. Another specialty is pot-fried Cambodian crispy rice with pork floss. Pork floss is soft, dried meat fibers from the pig. You find this dish on special occasions, but a restaurant in Siem Reap specializes only in it. It is not cheap: a large portion costs 10 dollars. Our host Vorleak researched a bit for you and made a step-by-step instruction how to cook Cambodia crispy rice at home.

How to cook Cambodian crispy rice with Pork Floss

First of all, you take normal rice and wash it three times. Then you pour it into a pot with a thin bottom. Take so much rice that it covers about one centimeter of the bottom. Then add water and boil the rice for about 20 minutes. The rice must become very soft. A gas stove or open fire is best.

When it is done cooking, take a wooden spoon and start spreading the rice from the center to the edge of the pot. It should form a rim about five centimeters high, but the rice must still cover the bottom. Spread everything smoothly.

Now put the pot back on the stove and let the rice bake. First on the bottom, then you have to take the pot in your hand and hold the edges over the flame. Be careful not to burn yourself. It would be best if you kept swirling the pot until the rice has darkened and is clearly browned on the pot (but it shouldn’t burn).

Let the Cambodian crispy rice burn a bit

Meanwhile, crack two eggs and whisk them with salt, pepper and chili powder or homemade chili sauce to taste. Cut spring onions into small pieces.

Heat about 150 ml of oil. When it’s hot, carefully pour it into the rice pot (turn the flame back on) and swirl the pot so the oil gets everywhere. You need to keep doing this until the rice looks crispy. Then pour off the rest of the oil.

Now take the eggs and pour them over the bottom of the crispy rice. Spread them evenly and let the mixture fry briefly until the egg has set. Now let the pot cool down a bit. Hold the bottom of the rice with a wooden spoon, tip the pot over and carefully catch the rice.

Poor eggs and onions on the rice and let it get solid.

Place it on a plate and sprinkle with Pork Floss.

Take the Cambodian crispy rice carefully out of the pot

You need these ingredients

200 gr rice
2 eggs
200 ml cooking oil
salt
pepper
chili powder
2 bunches spring onion
4 tbs porkfloss

10 false tourist assumptions about Cambodia

Written by André Ruys on 07/28/2020. Posted in eat in Siem Reap, food in Cambodia, Kambodscha, Khmer culture, Siem Reap.

When you travel to Cambodia, you will certainly look for information in travel guides and on the website of the Foreign Office. What diseases are there, how to behave, what is allowed and what not. But many assumptions about Cambodia are outdated today and therefore we want to help you to get a realistic picture.

1. No ice cubes in the drink

Today the ice for drinks comes from a specialized production and is made from filtered drinking water. You can put ice in your drink today without hesitation. Furthermore, beer is often drunk with ice instead of being cooled.

2. Drinking water cannot be used for brushing your teeth

That too is outdated today. Phnom Penh has an excellent drinking water supply, and the water is constantly being tested. This is also the case in Siem Reap. In the countryside, water often comes from a groundwater pump. When brushing your teeth or taking a shower, this is no problem.

3. You must help Cambodians

Even though Cambodia is a poor country and the majority of the people here live from one day to the next, they also have their pride. Distributing books and pens to children is no longer appropriate today. It is better to finance a child’s education through an organization (Green Gecko), or to go to local restaurants run by locals. You can always leave a tip.

4. There is a tuktuk on every corner

Since about 2018, Cambodia has had Passapp, and now Grab. With this apps you can call a rickshaw (motor tricycle) or a tuktuk. This is cheaper, faster and you get a fixed price. Many tuktuk drivers have taken advantage of tourists again and again and charged far too high prices. You are free to tip here as well.

5. A restaurant is good if there are many guests

Many cafes and restaurants with high ratings are run by foreigners who are more familiar with social media. But that does not mean that you get better food. The rule that a restaurant is good because there are many people there is only true to a limited extent. Tourists go where they see tourists, without this having anything to do with price and quality. In case of local restaurants it is different, there, a visit is worthwhile.

6. The Khmer Rouge trauma

Although the time of the Khmer Rouge was a traumatic event for the Khmer living at that time, most young people today know little about it. It is part of history, but Cambodia is more than just the few years of reign of terror.

7. Cambodia is a combination destination

Die New Cambodian Arrists — Die New Cambodian Artists

Many combine Cambodia with a trip to Thailand, Vietnam or Laos. You can also spend two or three weeks in Cambodia. There is more to see here than just Angkor Wat. Siem Reap alone has many other destinations, and then there are the beaches, the city of Battambang and the great forests.

8. Siem Reap is Angkor Wat

Of course, Siem Reap is known by Angkor Wat, and you just have to have seen it. After all, it is the largest temple complex in the world. But there is much more to see and experience. For example a meal with locals, or a bike tour through the rice fields. You can explore the temples in the outskirts or spend the night in the forest. There are great yoga classes and you can meditate with monks.

9. Cambodian food is simple

When you come to Cambodia, you will of course try Fish Amok and Beef Lok Lak. But there are many other dishes. Especially when it comes to soups and curries, Cambodia has a lot of culinary delights to offer. The pork is especially good here and if you like you can also eat fried insects.

10. You have to support an NGO

Cambodia is a developing country, and particularly in terms of health care and education, it lags far behind other countries. However, even the many aid organisations have not been able to change this. If you want to help, support Cambodian shops and drivers. If you really want to donate, we recommend the Kanta Bopha Hospital or the Angkor Children Hospital. They do a great job.

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.

What to expect when you visit Dine With The Locals

Written by André Ruys on 01/09/2020. Posted in cooking class, eat with locals, food in Cambodia, Khmer culture, Siem Reap.

We are often asked what distinguishes our offer from the many cooking courses and food tours that are available in Siem Reap, Battambang and Phnom Penh. Dine With The Locals focuses on people. We want to bring travellers and locals together, would like to help each other to get to know and exchange ideas. Cooking and eating together is an excellent opportunity to learn about local culture and customs.

What do you get?

You can choose between many families in Cambodia (and even Vietnam) on our platform. All families have been personally selected and visited by us. Each family has put together its own menu and offers you more than just standing together at the stove. We have Apasara dancers, painters, modern art, cultural ambassadors and organic farmers. You can learn how to make small fish toys from the leaves of coconut palms and how to make a perfect table decoration from a banana leaf.

Who are the families?

Ms Laum makes Nom Pom, the Khmer coconut waffles, in Sem Reap

Our mission is to provide Cambodian families, especially women, with additional income. But we don’t look at how poor a family is. More importantly, can they offer you a great experience and have fun getting to know people. We have families who live on very little money and some who belong to the lower middle class. Mostly it is women who are our hosts. We want to support them because they often have no opportunity to earn money (or cannot earn enough).

How does it work?

After booking, you will receive a ticket from us with a description of where the family lives. We want to protect families and therefore do not put this information online. It’s best to take a tuk tuk to get to the house. Depending on the family, you will get a small tour, mostly through the garden and can see the house. Ask as many questions as you like, our hosts are proud to explain the customs of Cambodian (or Vietnamese) culture. Then it goes into the kitchen. The family has already done some shopping, unlike traditional cooking classes, you don’t have to go to the market. You won’t have to listen to a teacher either, but cook with the hosts. For example, they show you how to make the famous Kreung paste in a mortar, which can be found in many Cambodian dishes.

Eating together with locals

Eat together after the cooking class in Siem Reap

In order to live up to our name, we naturally eat together. In Asia, all dishes are usually served at the same time and you first have a portion of rice on your plate. Ask your hosts if you are unsure about how to eat a dish or whether to take your hands. In some families, you sit on the floor or on a small pedestal. You usually take off your shoes and sit cross-legged (or whatever is comfortable for you). You can also get a small stool if you want.

How clean is it with the hosts?

We are often asked whether it is clean in the families’ houses. The answer is very clear: yes. You visit simple housings, but families place great value on cleanliness. Incidentally, this also applies to the food. All ingredients are bought fresh (that’s why we have to know a day in advance when you want to come), washed several times (which will also be your job at these cooking classes in Cambodia) and cooked long enough. The water you are offered to drink has been filtered and prepared, the tea has been brewed with boiling water.

Book now your cooking class experience!

Cooking Class in Phnom Penh

Written by André Ruys on 12/28/2019. Posted in cooking class, Khmer culture.

If you come to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh, you will surely be overwhelmed by the cultural and culinary offerings. There is everything here, from a food tour in the evening to street stalls with fried chicken to luxury restaurants. You can also do a cooking class in Phnom Penh with us.

We have several hosts in Phnom Penh who are happy to welcome guests and give you an insight into local customs.

Our hosts for the cooking class in Phnom Penh:

Vannak Khun is a passionate and well known Khmer artist

Vannak Khun is a modern artist who has become known for his self-portraits and performances. You will visit him at home, where he works and has exhibited some of his photos. You can cook different dishes together, but above all, Vannak can tell you a lot about contemporary art in Cambodia.

Naysim has a silkworm farm just outside of Phnom Penh and also produces silk products. You will first learn how to spin Cambodian silk, see the caterpillars and try your hand at the loom. Then it goes into the open kitchen, where you learn how to cook the famous Beef Lok Lak in the cooking class in Phnom Penh. There is also a soup called Khlor Samlor Machu, which also contains the well-known Kreug paste.

Phanny and her husband live in the north of Phnom Penh with their daughter. They have retired but are happy to tell you about Cambodian culture and traditions. They have an interesting collection of old household items, some of which are 100 years old and handmade. The menu includes a soup that is cooked according to a very old recipe and is called grouse soup.

Host Ms. Phanny offers a special cooking class in Phnom Penh

Cooking classes are not boring lessons

Our cooking classes in Phnom Penh are not lessons as you know them from school. Instead of a teacher, you cook with the host families and learn automatically how the dishes are prepared. It’s like inviting friends to your home. In addition, the cooking classes in Phnom Penh are exclusive, if you book them, only you and your fellow travelers will take part.

What you get:
Cooking three different dishes (depending on the host)
Explanations of culinary arts and culture in Cambodia
New friends
Depending on the host, you can also buy souvenirs or make small gifts yourself
Unforgettable moments and memories
It feels good to help a Cambodian family earn extra income.

We also have more hosts in Cambodia. We offer many cooking classes in Siem Reap, but also in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey and soon in Stung Treng. And recently we also have offers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.