Rotanak Ros, widely known as Chef Nak, travels around Cambodia preserving and spotlighting traditional Khmer recipes. On top of hosting home dining, cooking classes and food-focused homestays, she also curates the Khmer section of the menu at the Rosewood Phnom Penh’s French-Cambodian Brasserie Louis. She says the region’s ancient cuisine comprises “at least a thousand dishes”, which congregate in her home city. “This is not just the hub for art or culture,” she says. “This is the place where everyone comes for a better life – and when they come from different parts of Cambodia, they bring their food.”
Central Market
“I like to start my day at Phnom Penh’s main market, with breakfast from the food court or the surrounding street vendors. Here, you’ll find a reflection of what Cambodians eat every day, from grilled pork on rice with sweet-and-sour sauce and crunchy pickle to nom banh jok: fresh rice noodles accompanied by seasonal vegetables. I’m also a big fan of the crispy banh chao crepes made with rice flour and coconut butter, stuffed with minced pork and bean sprouts.”
Kravanh
“This restaurant has made an effort to preserve and uplift Cambodian cuisine. It’s the type of place high-ranking government officials will take visitors to show off the country’s culinary prowess, and I’ve been eating here since before I became a chef. I love the snails amok, which has a thick, creamy lemongrass paste and coconut milk. This signature Cambodian dish is usually made with whitefish wrapped in a banana leaf and steam, but I always go for the version with snails, which are a common protein in Khmer cuisine.”
Address: Kravanh Restaurant, Phnom, 74 Oknha Ket St. (174), Penh 12210, Cambodia
Website: kravanhrestaurant.com
Villa 5
“Chef Sao Sopheak, who comes from Siem Reap, puts a contemporary spin on traditional Khmer flavours, and he’s so clever and creative. I love the marinated sun-dried fish served with seasonal fruit, such as watermelon or ripe mango. The fish is salty, but the sweetness of the fruit balances the whole thing.”
Address: Villa 5 Contemporary Cuisine, 5 Samdech Mongkol Iem St. (228), Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Website: villa5cuisine.com
Sora
“The view of the city from this bar on the 37th floor of the Rosewood Phnom Penh? Oh my God. The sunsets are amazing, and so are the cocktails. I’ll sometimes go off-menu and ask for Cambodian rum, passion fruit and a dash of star anise, shaken – no sugar required.”
Address: Sora Bar, Vattanac Capital Mall, ផ្លូវឡើងជំហៀង, 66 Level 37, Phnom Penh 12202, Cambodia
Website: rosewoodhotels.com
Nika's Seeing Hands Massage Therapy Centre
“At Nika’s, the massage therapists are blind, and they are really skilful. They’ve been fixing me for years now. Their main treatment is a traditional Khmer massage, a centuries-old technique incorporating stretching and pressure points for a restorative experience. They really know what they’re doing, and I like to support their community.”
Address: Nika's Seeing Hands Massage Therapy Center, 75D St 95, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Website: nikasmassagecenter.com
Chefnak.com; Rotanak was speaking to Megan Spurrell.