After our action packed trip to the Philippines a few short weeks ago we decided we wanted our Cambodian experience to be slow-paced and schedule free. This turned out to be an amazing choice. Instead of looking for free time for laundry and rest, we were instead looking for creative ways to fill our days. We did the obvious, several visits to the Angkor temples, and we explored the town, and it's many, MANY bar and restaurant offerings. So what else could we do that is unique to Cambodia? The answer came easily to us after all of the delicious food we ate. Let's take a local cooking class!
The day started with a van pick-up at our hotel. The driver took us across town to a very nice cafe/restaurant, Cassia, where we met the owner and his head chef. After a short wait, we were taken by the head chef via tuk tuk to the local wet market to learn about the local produce and spices that are used daily in the restaurant's menu.
The little green vegetables in the bottom left corner are eggplants.
All the ladies selling would sit on these tables while they hacked apart the seafood with large knives. I kept expecting a finger to be cut off!
The sights and smells were amazing and sometimes overwhelming! I had a small sneezing fit after taking a big whiff of the Khmer curry powder. On a side note, Khmer curry is my favorite local dish. It has the same general flavor (flavour- for Brian) as other curries, but it is not sweetened as much with coconut milk. It is a richer, more savory flavor overall.
After the market we went back to the restaurant for a pre-cooking latte. We were given the recipe book for our class that included several dishes, and we were told to study up!
#1- fresh spring rolls with pork
#2- green mango salad with dried shrimp
#3- sour soup with fish
#4- Amok with fish
#5- dessert (banana with coconut tapioca)
We chopped and stirred, folded and measured, and each dish came out looking amazing (even mine, miraculously). The worst part is that we wanted to eat each one as we finished it, but had to wait until they were all done. Also, making origami-like bowls out of banana leaves and bits of toothpicks made Jessi laugh at me. :( I tried my best!
Finally, we sat down to a delicious five course meal prepared by us!
Spring rolls in the front, soup in the blue-streaked ceramic pots, green mango salad behind, the amok in the infamous banana leaf packages in the back.
Just to be clear, Jessi's banana leaf box was prettier, but leaked more. Mine is the cleaner one on the right. So there!
Don't worry, we got to keep the recipe books so we will be sure to treat you to at least one of these dishes at some point.
Bon appetit!
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