CAMBODIA

HISTORY | CULTURE | BEAUTY

Why is everybody going to Cambodia? Because it’s a gorgeous country with great eats, rich history, and strong people with resilient spirit and soul.

LOUNG ENJOYING FOODGREAT EATS!

I love to eat. I’ve tasted such deliciousness as Fried Tarantulas (kind of like tater tots) in Cambodia, Biltong (a type of beef jerky) in South Africa, squid kabobs (Hong Kong), deep fried pig intestines (Loas), onion pizza (Italy) and toasty baguettes (France).  In fact, I am such a foodie that I went into the food business in 2005, and am now a partner in a trio of RESTAURANT, BAR, AND MICROBREWERY IN CLEVELAND.

Here is a short list of my favorite places to eat in Cambodia.  May they bring you much joy, great eats, and deliciousness.

  • Psah Tuol Tompong (Russian Market): I eat here a lot. My favorites are the Chive Cakes, Cambodian crepes (banxiou), noodles (katiew), fried bananas, and sugar cane juice. Pretty much everything there is great to eat!
  • Romdeng Restaurant: 74 Street 174, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This ‘Friends’ supported restaurant serves delicious food and provides vocational training for street youths. The profits are shared between the students, the teachers and charity. Among my favorite dishes is their Fried Tarantulas!
  • Green Star Restaurant: Located on the south end of Wot Bo Road in Wat Dam Nak, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Green Star feeds the stomach and the soul because profits from the restaurant support the Green Gecko Project which works to end children’s begging by promoting of education and life skills.
  • Khmer Kitchen: Everything is great there
  • Khmer Surin: Fabulous khmer food
  • The Shop: Great sandwiches and fruit shakes
  • Elephant Bar (at Le Royal): Great place for a fancy night out for cocktails
  • FCCC: Salads and pizzas
  • Le Quay: Seared tuna
  • Malis: Khmer curry

Restaurants that are italicized are listed in Phnom Penh guide book. They’re all great!

HERE ARE A FEW MUSICIANS AND ARTS PROGRAMS I ENJOY!

  • YouTube: Listen to anything by Khmer singer Sin Sisamouth and Ros Rereysothea

CLA supports arts education, mentorship, networking opportunities, education, career development, and income generating projects for master performing artists who survived the Khmer Rouge as well as the next generation of student artists.

The Beauty and Darkness project provides information on the recent history of Cambodia, particularly the Khmer Rouge period.

This instrumental Cambodian ban plays beautiful music.

WAT

KHMER ROUGE TRIBUNAL

In 2012, I will return to Cambodia once again to spend the New Year with my family.  But on this trip, like the last, I will also make my way to courtroom of The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, commonly known as the “Khmer Rouge Tribunal”, to bear witness to the trials of the Khmer Rouge chief ideologist Nuon Chea, ex-foreign minister Ieng Sary and ex-head of state Khieu Samphan are on trial of charges of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity that resulted in the deaths of up to two million Cambodians.

To learn more visit The Documentation Center of Cambodia: www.DCCAM.org or The Cambodia Tribunal: www.cambodiatribunal.org.