Journey through Cambodia’s culinary heritage
Highlighting the wealthy heritage of Cambodian delicacies, Raffles Grand d’Angkor Resort in Siem Reap has launched a brand new luxurious restaurant referred to as 1932. An ode to the 12 months the resort opened as a refuge for archaeologists and adventure-seeking souls Discover the traditional kingdom of Angkor Wat, providing a menu Meals Relationship again to 1932, an untold historical past of Siem Reap and the resort is offered by the tasting menus.
Tasting menus present an introduction to the distinctive flavors of Khmer delicacies, meticulously crafted by Govt Sous Chef Dorn Dort, higher referred to as Chef Dee Dee. The Siem Reap native is well-versed within the intricacies of nationwide delicacies, together with genuine Khmer royal delicacies and trendy Khmer gastronomy. A advantageous Cambodian eating expertise stuffed with native, seasonal produce is one of the simplest ways to explain Restaurant 1932.
“I’ve designed these menus to function the proper introduction to Khmer delicacies, highlighting wonderful, contemporary native produce. “We supply native meat and fish, spices, chocolate and different components to create signature dishes that even essentially the most discriminating foodie will agree make it a brand new ‘should expertise’. Culinary map of Southeast Asia,” says Chef Dee Dee.
Tasting menus are categorized by necessary a long time or intervals in Cambodian historical past, together with the Nineteen Thirties (“The Reign of King Sisowath Norodom” at USD 80++), the Nineteen Fifties (“The Nice Renaissance” at USD 50++), and the Nineteen Sixties (‘ Grand Renaissance” $50++). “Golden Age” at $60++) and the Nineties (“Raffles Grand Legacy” at $120++). “As Cambodia’s most iconic resort courting again 90 years, it’s becoming that our signature restaurant, 1932, celebrates Cambodia’s wealthy and royal culinary heritage whereas additionally paying tribute to its illustrious Khmer heritage,” explains Chef Dee Dee when speaking about dividing the menu into the a long time.
“We emphasised many historic eras within the nation since they have been necessary to our Grand Girl,” he provides. “We imagine that in these a long time, the culinary scene advanced considerably with influences from what was taking place within the nation.”
The signature “Raffles Grand Legacy” tasting menu consists of Salmon Phlea trey with lemongrass, coriander and spicy lime sorbet; Sam lor m’jou prei or Duck consommé with straw mushrooms, eggplant and morning glory; Amok trey prel or 1932 Fish Amok, a restaurant signature, with kroeung (the quintessential Cambodian curry paste), coconut milk and black sticky rice; “Char Kedow” Angus tenderloin with spicy basil, inexperienced beans and candy potatoes; A collection of Cambodian cheeses, together with Tomme of Bokor, Brie and Kampot Camembert; Leang mort accommodates kaffir lime sorbet with Elephant Bar gin; And a chocolate and ginger truffle with ardour fruit, coconut, palm sugar and caramel.
“To be able to produce dishes that precisely depict the particular period, we needed to conduct intensive research. When King Sisowath Monivong was in energy, for instance, solely the royal household had entry to royal Khmer delicacies, which is why solely the Nineteen Thirties function the distinctive flavors of royal recipes. “The Nineteen Fifties, then again, have a good time the common-or-garden life-style of the Khmer folks throughout the reign of the younger King Norodom Sihanouk, and commemorate the interval when Cambodia achieved full independence,” explains the chef.
For instance, an appetizer from the Nineteen Thirties menu is Sach ko ngat kroeung or beef and pork with Cambodian papaya salad. A roll of beef and pork is marinated in a silky cruyeong paste, a staple in Khmer cooking, which accommodates garlic, galangal, kaffir lime, lemongrass, crimson pepper, turmeric, and shallots. Serve this with papaya salad. One other nice dish from the Nineteen Thirties menu is Nham khyorng phlet jea mouy kra av chouk or seared scallop and lotus salad. A royal Khmer recipe, it’s a fantastic mixture of every little thing from lotus, fruit and roots in a salad with scallops. Including a crunchy lotus slice on high provides crunch and texture to the dish.
Enter the Nineteen Fifties with Sam lor Praher Khmer or Clear soup with tropical greens and herb ling leak karnam. A part of the vegetarian tasting menu pays tribute to the agricultural life-style of the nation’s provinces throughout the Renaissance by together with native flowers and produce. Karnam seep ling is a medicinal herb and is usually present in Ayurvedic medicines.
Chhien juon trey ch’pung or seabass with pickled soy and ginger is the primary fish course from the Nineteen Sixties menu. Seabass from the coastal Cape province is seared and served with pumpkin, fragrant fermented soybeans and ginger sauce. The sauce is ready and refined to a clean consistency.
A 90s meat dish is Stek sach ko char kdao or Angus Tenderloin with scorching basil, fried inexperienced beans and peppers. One of many nation’s well-known dishes is char kadaw or spicy stir-fry with basil, lemongrass and galangal served with lengthy beans, peppers and onions. And considered one of my favourite Cambodian dishes!
The ’90s dessert blends the standard with the trendy within the type of a Bang ‘Em Chocolate or a Ardour and Ginger Chocolate Truffle. Artisanally made in Cambodia from Mondulkiri cocoa beans, this chocolate and truffle cake is served with contemporary ardour fruit and strawberries. It additionally accommodates chik keteh, which loosely interprets as bananas in coconut milk. Nonetheless, right here it’s a candy banana muffin served with Cambodian tapioca sorbet, coconut milk and palm sugar.
If tasting menus aren’t your cup of tea, the restaurant additionally presents a wide selection of à la carte menus. “These particular picks are a few of our most well-received dishes: For starters, conventional Khmer spring rolls with leeks, carrots, papaya and cucumber in a spicy plum sauce topped with roasted peanuts; khor ti pearl ko, beef that melts within the mouth and is served with fragrant herbs referred to as ma Om and quail egg curry. For dessert, take pleasure in darkish chocolate infused with pepper, native strawberries, ardour fruit and honeycomb from Mondulkiri,” provides Chef Dee Dee.
The menus at Raffles 1932 have a good time the colourful flavors and cultural heritage of Cambodian delicacies and provides it a world stage the place, one hopes, it should now not stay a thriller.
Name +855-63-963-888, e mail eating.grandhotel@raffles.com or go to affles.com/siem-reap.
