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Savour Siem Reap – A Bespoke Culinary Experience Crafted By Lara. Appetisers at AHA, Siem Reap, Cambodia. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Savour Siem Reap – A Bespoke Culinary Experience Crafted By Lara

If you don’t want to waste a meal in Siem Reap, you want to taste authentic Cambodian food and not the Thai-Cambodian fusion most tourist restaurants offer, and you’re keen to sample street food and learn how the locals eat, then book my Savour Siem Reap bespoke culinary experience.

Along with my bespoke Inside Siem Reap and Shop Siem Reap experiences, I also offer food-focused Savour Siem Reap itineraries aimed at food-lovers, foodies, street food fanatics, home-cooks, chefs, restaurant owners, and people who simply love to eat well when they travel.

My Savour Siem Reap experiences are specifically for the kind of people who hate to waste a meal when they’re on holidays, people for whom food forms an important part of their travel memories, whether it’s sampling street food at markets and local stalls or savouring gastronomic meals in the best restaurants, taking cooking classes or doing street food tours.

Savour Siem Reap – A Bespoke Culinary Experience Crafted By Lara

Along with my bespoke Inside Siem Reap and Shop Siem Reap experiences, I also offer food-focused Savour Siem Reap itineraries aimed at food-lovers, foodies, street food fanatics, home-cooks, chefs, restaurant owners, and people who simply love to eat well when they travel.

My Savour Siem Reap experiences are specifically for the kind of people who hate to waste a meal when they’re on holidays, people for whom food forms an important part of their travel memories, whether it’s sampling street food at markets and local stalls or savouring gastronomic meals in the best restaurants, taking cooking classes or doing street food tours.

Unbeknownst to most visitors to Siem Reap, there is plenty here to satisfy food-lovers – fragrant markets, authentic street food, cooking lessons, street food tours, restaurants serving up refined Cambodian cuisine, off the beaten track eateries, laneway cafés and bars, Khmer cocktail making classes, and shops selling covetable culinary objects, from kitchen utensils made from coconut shells and handmade basketry to Cambodian pepper, spices and coffee, and cotton kramas that make cool table runners.

Why savour Siem Reap with Lara

Wasting a meal is easy to do in Siem Reap unfortunately. Just take a look at the Trip Advisor listings. You’ll invariably find everything in the top ten but authentic Cambodian cuisine, from German to Brazilian, Indian to Italian. Yet what most visitors to Siem Reap want to try when they’re in town is Cambodian food, one of the most misunderstood cuisines in the region.

Strangely enough, the best Cambodian restaurants aren’t at the top of Trip Advisor’s list and some are bewilderingly buried deep within the listings. The best local food stalls don’t even make it to the site. Guidebooks don’t always provide the best advice either. Some of the most popular recommended restaurants for travellers are serving up a sort of Thai-Cambodian fusion because they think tourists won’t understand Cambodian food and they know they’re more familiar with Thai. And they’re right. But that’s no reason to pass off Thai as Cambodian. Cambodian food is infinitely more interesting in my opinion.

As food and travel writers, Terence and I spend much of our time working on food stories and researching Cambodian cuisine. We’re currently developing a Khmer cuisine cookbook with old local cooks and we’ve eaten at almost every restaurant in Siem Reap (and drank at almost every bar). We have our finger on the pulse. That means I can help you to eat and drink well while you’re here. Because we all know, there are few things more disappointing when we travel than a bad meal.

How Savour Siem Reap works

Contact me to let me know what your requirements are before you leave home and I’ll work with you to create a unique, bespoke, food-focused itinerary just for you.

Let me know what your interests are, whether it’s learning about local produce or cooking Cambodian food, sampling street food and home-style cooking, trying Khmer desserts or savouring contemporary Cambodian cuisine, tasting local rice wine spirits or learning to make Khmer cocktails.

Once you do that, I’ll create a bespoke itinerary crafted around your specific interests. If you’re a chef or restaurant industry professional, I can also introduce you to chefs so you can go behind-the-scenes, organise visits to artisanal producers, markets, organic farms, and arrange cooking experiences.

If you simply want to eat great food, and not necessarily Cambodian, whether it is Italian, Russian, French or Japanese, if you’re travelling with kids, or you have dietary restrictions, I can help there too. And if the temples and local experiences are still the primary focus, and you just want to punctuate them with really great eating, then let me know.

I will then provide you with a bespoke handcrafted itinerary created just for you, including detailed recommendations for suitable eateries, activities and experiences. I will make suggestions for the most appropriate tour companies or guides to match your interests and budget, and if you require I can also make introductions. Or if you prefer to go it alone, I can recommend tuk tuk drivers and craft self-guided experiences you can do independently.

What the Savour Siem Reap experience includes

This is not a tour and I am not a guide. Think of me as a curator of experiences, a host, or your new friend in town. Here at Grantourismo we are advocates of Responsible Travel. We don’t believe that expats should be leading tours in a developing country like Cambodia where unemployment is high and locals working in tourism earn as little as US$80 a month.

As a travel and food writer who has tried dozens of tours in Siem Reap and Cambodia, it’s my job to direct you to the best local travel companies, tour operators, tuk tuk drivers, and Cambodian guides who best match your interests, style of travel, and budget, and if you book my experience, I will curate those into a well thought-out itinerary.

My experience includes:

  • a detailed bespoke itinerary that enables you to plan your trip;
  • pre-trip advice;
  • pick up from your hotel soon after you check in and a tuk tuk ride to orientate you to Siem Reap and point out things that will interest you, so you can hit the ground running;
  • some time at my favourite café or bar where we can discuss the itinerary and your stay; I can introduce you to Siem Reap, Cambodian cuisine and customs; share my strategies for dealing with tuk tuk drivers, bargaining at markets, and eating street food safely; answer your questions so you don’t waste a meal; and you can pick my brain.

How to make a booking

Feel free to leave questions in the comments below, however, if you want to make a booking or make an enquiry contact me at laradunston@me.com

If you want more of a general experience or an itinerary crafted around interests other than eating and drinking, read about my Inside Siem Reap and other bespoke experiences on our Itineraries, Tours and Retreats page.

I also offer a Sip Siem Reap itinerary, which I call my ‘bar crawl for grown-ups’, and a Shop Siem Reap experience covering art, crafts, jewellery, fashion, accessories, fine art photography, design, home decor, culinary products, and more. The focus is on Made in Cambodia products and visits to ateliers and workshops to see artisans at work or meet designers can also be arranged.

Read Some of My Savour Siem Reap Testimonials

“I want to thank you so much for making my holiday so great. One of the best I’ve had. I haven’t really liked travelling solo much in the past but I didn’t feel like I was solo having you there. I did everything I wanted to, and things I didn’t know I could because of your help.” Chef Lauren Murdoch, Australia.

“I like to eat, and Lara delivered above and beyond with a beautifully crafted itinerary featuring the best of Cambodian cuisine. This is what Lara and the GT team do best, combining international knowledge with local insight to help you find those hidden gems you’d never happen across on your own.” Jerrold Cheam, Australia/UK.

“My partner and I have always spoken to each other about the joy of travelling to places where we have friends living. There is something wonderful about having them introduce you to that side that you only get to know from being there for an extended period and that you rarely see in your limited time as a traveller. We didn’t have any friends in Siem Reap that we could call on but we have certainly come away from our trip feeling like we did. Lara is not only an amazing wealth of knowledge about the city and surrounds, she also showed us a side of Siem Reap you couldn’t hope to discover on your own. As a major added bonus, Lara is a really lovely person; someone who immediately puts you at ease, like you’ve maybe already met before. On top of that, she really genuinely cares that you have your best possible travel experience. During our travels she checked in with us and helped us refine our itinerary as we went, which for us was invaluable because she quickly understood what interests us and was able to give us more of what we love. Lara is passionate about Cambodia and she knows the place, I would highly recommend her to anyone wanting to scratch below the surface in this fantastic place, she is worth every cent. There are many hidden gems in Cambodia and Lara is certainly one of them.” Peter L., Australia.

“Lara is brilliant! She provided me with a detailed bespoke itinerary that she added to and adapted to as I needed. She has a very broad and in depth knowledge of all things culinary in Siem Reap as well as any other activities that you may care to pursue while visiting this wonderful city. Lara genuinely cares about you as a client. She checked in with me regularly to see if everything was going well and was ready to offer alternative solutions or advice about any aspect of my trip and followed up with arranging bookings or reservations as needed. Lara contributed enormously to making my holiday in Siem Reap very, very special.” Sally E., Australia.

Read about the ‘girls getaway’ itinerary I crafted for Australian foodie and blogger Sandy and her friends on her blog Tray Tables Away.

“As a repeat visitor to Siem Reap, I had more than just temples on my mind for my latest visit. We wanted to enjoy some nightlife, try some truly fantastic Khmer cocktails and get a real feel for the energy of the city. Taking Lara’s tour was like visiting with an old friend who also just so happens to be a Siem Reap insider — she filled us in on expat life in Cambodia, introduced us to local movers and shakers, and brought us to hidden gems we never would have found on our own. It was the highlight of our weekend – and that’s not just the hand-crafted Khmer cocktails talking.” Alex (AKA Alex in Wanderland), Thailand.

“Lara’s unique and vast knowledge of Cambodia puts her in the perfect position to create a bespoke itinerary for visitors to Siem Reap. The focus on authentic experiences (an overused term but in this case apt) helps the visitor to understand a little more about this wonderful country. I only wish we had more time to follow all of Lara’s recommendations.” Victoria (AKA Singapore Foodie), Singapore.

“Sincere thanks for all that you’ve done for us. Incredible. Words cannot describe how much we enjoyed the tour and talking to you! The wealth of information and your charm, the afternoon and evening just flew by. Dinner at Sugar Palm was great, we had a blast and the food was amazing. Our day was great, we took your advice to do the tour early and it was the best decision. Guide was solid too. Hope to see you again and thank you for the glorious recommendations. Again, sincere thanks for everything and we can’t say enough how great everything turned out.” Riccarda, Fabio & Lavinia, Germany.

“Lara, thank you for introducing us to Siem Reap and embracing us with your keen reassurance and insight, making sure we saw, tasted, heard, touched, glimpsed, felt, interacted, and grooved with all this place has to offer! What a terrific, enthusiastic, insightful night!!!! Lara, your role in connecting us to a place and people we could not do in such a short time is appreciated- thank you. Your gift was an introduction to a place in time that is Siem Reap, leaving us at the door you opened, with curiosity and a little less apprehension! Thanks for readying us to discover this amazing part of the world! Okun!” Lisa & John, Australia.

“Lara’s advice and guidance were invaluable and we had such a wonderful time. Lara helped make our trip to Siem Reap extra special and we can’t thank her enough. She helped us with restaurant reservations, finding the best guides, tuk tuk drivers and shops. Her local knowledge was extensive to say the least. She was also incredibly friendly and charming. My husband and I will definitely recommend this to anyone!” Kara & Dan, Indonesia.

“Lara Dunston is knowledgeable in every respect… from temples to bars, restaurants to tuk tuks and everything in between, Lara knows Siem Reap. We’ve come to rely on her expertise elsewhere in South East Asia as well. We’ve been traveling in Vietnam for the past three weeks and her guidance has been invaluable, especially when it comes to food. From street to haute, Lara’s suggestions have been superb. Again, we can’t thank you enough Lara.” Andy and Betsy, USA.

“Lara is a well-traveled resource. She has really experienced the cities she’s visited and loves to share that knowledge with others. She even went so far as to make recommendations for my next stops. Her passion for crafting unique experiences for others was very evident. She really knows her stuff and tries to tailor her suggestions to what interests you most. I enjoyed meeting Lara and appreciated all the great ideas she shared. I’d say the one drawback is that Lara is in demand and thus has a pretty tight schedule so you’ll have to be a bit flexible in working with her. Thank you, Lara, for making my trip to Siem Reap even better. Your advice in Battambang was also wonderful! You have a lovely spirit and your passion in helping others was great to experience!” Katrina, USA.

“I really really really loved my birthday night, and you played a major role on it! Thank you so much for being such a great host, we really felt welcomed in Siem Reap also, thanks to you!” Inês, Timor-Leste.

“Hi Lara, on behalf of the guys we thank you so much for your insight to Siem Reap. Even though we didn’t get to try everything you listed, we enjoyed the ones we tried, and it exceeded our expectations. Thank you again and hopefully we will see you in Cambodia again.” Manny, Korea.

“Lara is a wealth of knowledge! Having spent time living in and writing about Siem Reap, she’s able to offer the best advice on where to eat, shop and visit. She was able to craft a shopping tour suited perfectly to my interests, and I even got to meet the designers and craftspeople responsible for the beautiful items I was buying. What’s more, Lara took me to ethical shops and workshops, where the quality of the goods was high and the workers were well looked after. Thank you, Lara!” Emily, Australia.

“I was put in touch with Lara through mutual friends, and she provided lots of options for my trip before we met. It meant that I was able to adjust quickly and avoid any newcomer’s mistakes. Throughout the trip she stayed in constant contact and continued to provide suggestions based on my location and the weather. Most of all she approaches people on as clients but as potential friends, and that’s what we are now.” Nicholas, Singapore.

“My wife and I, along with a friend of mine decided to visit Siem Reap but we knew nothing about the town other than the famous Angkor Wat temples. So I started researching online for information and hit the jackpot!! when we found the gorgeous Lara D! Lara took care of everything for us, she crafted an extensive twelve page bespoke itinerary for our entire visit, which included everything from temples to floating village tours, excellent galleries, cafés, restaurants & bars that most tourist are not even aware off! We had some incredible Cambodian cuisine at these restaurants, which also turned out to be some of the best food we had in our 14 day travel through south east Asia! In the evenings, after long day of visiting temples we went to these super cool bars that she had recommended in our itinerary, to our delight we found out that most of the patrons at these bars were expats living and working in Siem Reap and tourist like us who had the inside track thanks to Lara! Pretty much all these places knew Lara or aware of her and they welcomed us as personal friends of Lara D! We loved it. One evening Lara came out with us to celebrate, even though having prior engagement, she put her own private evening plans on hold just to take us out to some of the best cafés & bars in Siem Reap. It goes without saying we had an incredible time that night, but more interestingly, we realized that we wouldn’t have been able to find these hidden gems without Lara period. And after few days of visiting the temple ruins, we decided to go shopping which was completely hassle free because in our itinerary Lara had included names of boutique stores to shop, we brought back some of our best souvenirs from these places. Furthermore, at the beginning of our trip Lara had recommended a tuktuk driver for our entire stay in Siem Reap. The tuktuk driver was superb, not only was he trustworthy but took an incredibly good care of us, he stayed with us from sunrise to sunset and beyond well into the night. Having our own private driver saved us from the hassle of having to negotiate fare everyday with random tuktuk drivers. I used to think that just reading through lonely planet book of a city or going through tripadvisor recommendations one can make a solid travel plans, Lara shattered that thought. Now I know how important it is to have professional travel guide when visiting any place for the first time and especially when you visit Siem Reap. So if you plan on visiting Siem Reap contact Lara and she will take care of everything and anything you can ask for, she is really that good. We couldn’t have ask for anything more from Lara, her magic kept us rolling through Siem Reap without any trouble, inconvenience or stress, she put all her energy and drive to craft an itinerary which revealed us Siem Reap that no guide book, tripadvisor or travel websites can match. It speaks volume of Lara’s talent as a professional travel writer. Simply put, she is the best professional guide, travel & food writer in Siem Reap. If you decide to visit this incredible place in Cambodia, then let Lara be your eyes & ears to reveal this magical place for you. Lara, thank you for everything you have done for us, we couldn’t have enjoyed Siem Reap the way we did without your itinerary and personal guidance. We will be back in Siem Reap as long as you are there!!!” Souvik, USA.

Need accommodation in Cambodia? See our recommended hotels in Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Battambang, all tried and tested.

Support our Cambodia Cookbook & Culinary History Book with a donation or monthly pledge on Patreon.

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About Lara Dunston

A travel and food writer who has experienced over 70 countries and written for The Guardian, Australian Gourmet Traveller, Feast, Delicious, National Geographic Traveller, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia, DestinAsian, TIME, CNN, The Independent, The Telegraph, Sunday Times Travel Magazine, AFAR, Wanderlust, International Traveller, Get Lost, Four Seasons Magazine, Fah Thai, Sawasdee, and more, as well as authored more than 40 guidebooks for Lonely Planet, DK, Footprint, Rough Guides, Fodors, Thomas Cook, and AA Guides.

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Comments

  1. Sebastian says

    August 29, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    Lara’s in-depth local knowledge of Siem Reap was invaluable to me when my girlfriend and I were planning our Cambodia trip last year. Her suggestions clearly showed a lot of research and her opinions on places, both to eat and drink as to where to stay, displayed not only great on-the-ground tips but a good understanding of what we were after. Needless to say this saved hours of (often frustrating) time researching on the internet, where I was coming up with wildly varying information about what’s good and what isn’t. I think Lara’s an excellent resource for a Siem Reap visit (and indeed, for the rest of Cambodia) and I wouldn’t hesitate for a second in recommending her services to people who are looking for the best local experiences.

  2. Lara Dunston says

    September 1, 2014 at 9:09 pm

    Thank you so much for the kind words, Sebastian. It was an absolute delight helping you plan your trip and so lovely to see you here in Siem Reap. But then you were our invaluable resource when we were in Jerez a few years earlier, so I had to endeavour to be as helpful as you were to us. Nothing like Local Knowledge, right? Looking forward to seeing you again in Spain.

  3. Heather says

    September 14, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    Any traveler that loves food should always make an attempt to discover their destination’s local food culture … so much to experience, especially in places like Cambodia!

  4. Lara Dunston says

    September 15, 2014 at 11:24 am

    Agree! Eating out, especially at local family-owned eateries, provide great insights into everyday life.

  5. Lucas Malovic says

    September 23, 2014 at 11:30 am

    Even I agree with you guys, when your in another country definitely you need to experience local food and their culture.
    I never experienced Cambodia. do you ever experience wild life?

  6. Lara Dunston says

    September 24, 2014 at 8:42 pm

    Glad you agree! We have experienced wild life here in Asia, Australia, South America, Africa, but not yet in Sri Lanka – we’ll actually be heading there soon on a food tour, so we’re really looking forward to trying the local food – but we’d also love to see the wildlife, so I will get in touch. Thanks for dropping by!

  7. Bobbi Van says

    December 8, 2014 at 10:54 am

    Hello

    Friends of Eric Raisina in NY mentioned you to us this week…Oh how I wish we had that Conversation two months ago when we planned our trip…however it is what it is and I have had so much joy reading your blog and seeing life through
    your eyes. How do we read you to discuss Siem Reap and Vietnam??? We arrive in Siem Reap Dec. 23th and then Vietnam Dec 26th – January 9th..

    Thank you

    Bobbi

  8. Lara Dunston says

    December 8, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    Hi Bobbi – lovely to hear from you! And thank you so much for the kind words. Much appreciated. I was at Eric’s first anniversary party on Friday night – wonderful show and fun party!

    If you’re interested in me helping you plan your trip – and I’d be delighted to – you can just click through on any of the links above to book a Vayable experience with me. If you’re a foodie, you want Savour Siem Reap; if you’d love to browse more beautiful fashion, jewellery and accessories boutiques like Eric’s, see artisans and craftspeople at work (painters, woodcarvers, silk weavers, jewellers), and/or buy/see art, handicrafts, and design objects, then you should book Shop Siem Reap. If you want a combo of both things plus temples, then book Inside Siem Reap.

    Once you book an experience we can start discussing your trip and once I know more about your dates, duration of your stay, interests, etc, I will create a draft bespoke itinerary for you to consider, then I’ll meet you when you arrive. I can also help you with Vietnam ideas, as we lived therefore we moved to Siem Reap. Look forward to seeing you in Siem Reap!

  9. Alyson says

    March 8, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    Hi there, we just arrived in Siem Reap tonight and dinner tonight was…yuk! Could you point us in the direction of some decent food? My husband is an executive chef, I’m just one of those annoying foodies. Do you have a blog post that would be for us? We would obviously mention you in any posts of ours about our food experiences here. Thanks!

  10. Lara Dunston says

    March 8, 2015 at 10:01 pm

    Hi Alyson, did you realise you’re asking for food/restaurant tips at the end of the post promoting my bespoke itinerary service for foodies? :) Aside from my work as a food and travel writer, I craft bespoke itineraries and many of my clients are chefs, including some of the world’s best chefs, so happy to help. Please email if you’d like me to create a food focused itinerary for you :)

    If not, there is loads of info on the site on eating out in Siem Reap. Have a browse under ‘Siem Reap’ or do a search for ‘Siem Reap food’ or ‘Siem Reap restaurants’, which should bring up results such as these:

    Our Culinary Guide to Siem Reap
    – probably one of the most comprehensive guides to eating out and all things foodie you’ll find out there – based on years of experience:
    http://grantourismotravels.com/2014/07/29/our-culinary-guide-to-siem-reap/

    Cambodian Street Food in Siem Reap
    – a selection of the delicious Cambodian street food (i.e. no banana pancakes or fruit shakes) that was found in abundance at the water festival and is typical of Siem Reap street food.
    http://grantourismotravels.com/2014/11/08/cambodian-street-food-in-siem-reap/

    Dig around a bit and you’ll find lots more.

    Where did you eat tonight???

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Lara and Terence are an Australian-born, Southeast Asia-based travel and food writers and photographers who have authored scores of guidebooks, produced countless travel and food stories, are currently developing cookbooks and guidebooks, and host culinary tours and writing and photography retreats in Southeast Asia.
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Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check o Still looking for Christmas cooking inspo? Check out our seafood recipe collection, especially if you celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve with a fish focused meal in the Southern Italian tradition, transformed by Italian-Americans into the Feast of the Seven Fishes, or like Australians, who celebrate Christmas in the sweltering summer, feast on seafood for Christmas Day lunch, we’ve got lots of easy seafood recipes for you.

Our recipes include a classic prawn cocktail, blini with smoked salmon, a ceviche-style appetiser, and devilled eggs with caviar. We’ve also got recipes for fish soup, seafood pies and pastas, salmon tray bake, and crispy salmon with creamy mashed potatoes.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/seafood-recipes-for-christmas-eve-and-christmas-day-menus/
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Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating!! 

#christmas #christmasfood #seafood #fish #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #grantourismo #grantourismotravels #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you’re still looking for food inspo for Chris If you’re still looking for food inspo for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day meals, my smoked salmon ‘carpaccio’ recipe is one of dozens of recipes in this compilation of our best Christmas recipes (link below). 

The Christmas recipe compilation includes collections of our best Christmas breakfast recipes, best Christmas brunch recipes, best Christmas starter recipes, best Christmas cocktails, best Christmas dessert recipes, and homemade edible Christmas gifts and more.

My smoked salmon carpaccio recipe makes an easy elegant appetiser that’s made in minutes. If you’re having guests over, you can make the dish ahead by assembling the salmon, capers and pickled onions, and refrigerate it, then pour on the dressing just before serving. 

Provide toasted baguette slices and bowls of additional capers, pickles and dressing, so guests can customise their carpaccio. And open the bubbly!

You’ll find that recipe and many more Christmas recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/best-christmas-recipes/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Merry Christmas!! X

#christmas #christmasfood #recipes #christmasrecipes #foodstagram #salmon #smokedsalmon #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood #picoftheday #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels 
#xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas
If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I sh If you haven’t visited our site in a while, I shared a collection of recipes for homemade edible Christmas gifts — for condiments, hot sauces, chilli oils, a whole array of pickles, spice blends, chilli salt, furakake seasoning, and spicy snacks, such as our Cambodian and Vietnamese roasted peanuts. 

I love giving homemade edibles as gifts as much as I love receiving them. Who wouldn’t appreciate jars filled with their favourite chilli oils, hot sauces, piquant pickles, and spicy peanuts that loved-ones have taken the time to make? 

Aside from the gesture and affordability of gifting homemade edibles, you’re minimising waste. You can use recycled jars or if buying new mason jars or clip-top Kilner jars, you know they’ll get repurposed.

No need for wrapping, just attach some Christmas baubles or tinsel to the lid. I used squares of Cambodian kramas (cotton scarves), which can be repurposed as napkins or drink coasters, and tied a ribbon or two around the lids, and attached last year’s Christmas tree decorations to some.

You’ll find the recipes here: https://grantourismotravels.com/homemade-edible-christmas-gifts/ (link in bio if you’re seeing this on IG)

Yes, that’s Pepper... every time there’s a camera around... 

#christmasgiftideas #ediblegifts ##christmasfoodgifts #foodgifts #giftideas #homemadegifts #christmasfood #ediblegiftideas #hotsauce #chillisauce #sriracha #pickles #homemadepickles #recipes #foodstagram #foodblogger #food #foodlover #igfood 
#blackcat #blackcatsofinstagram #picoftheday 
#christmas #christmastree #xmas #merrychristmas #happychristmas #cambodia #siemreap
This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’ This crab omelette is a decadent eggs dish that’s perfect if you’re just back from the fish markets armed with luxurious fresh crab meat. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy, and very, very moreish.

Our crab omelette recipe was one of our 22 most popular egg recipes of 2022 on our website Grantourismo and it’s no surprise. It’s appeared more times than any other egg recipes on our annual round-ups of most popular recipes since Terence launched Weekend Eggs when we launched Grantourismo in 2010.

If you’re an eggs lover, do check out the recipe collection. It includes egg recipes from right around the world, from recipes for classic kopitiam eggs from Singapore and Malaysia and egg curries from India and Myanmar to all kinds of egg recipes from Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, Mexico, USA, Australia, UK, and Ireland.

And do browse our Weekend Eggs archives for further eggspiration (sorry). We have hundreds of egg recipes from the 13 year-old series of recipes for quintessential egg dishes from around the world, which we started on our 2010 year-long global grand tour focused on slow, local and experiential travel. 

We’re hoping 2023 will be the year we can finally publish the Weekend Eggs cookbook we’ve talked about for years based on that series. After we can find a publisher for the Cambodia cookbook of course... :( 

Recipe collection here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio):
https://grantourismotravels.com/22-most-popular-egg-recipes-of-2022-from-weekend-eggs/

If you cook the recipe and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either in the comments at the end of the recipe or share a pic with us here.

#recipe #recipes #eggs #eggslover #breakfasteggs #WeekendEggs #egg #breakfast #brunch #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #lookingforapublisher #writingacookbook  #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angko I’m late to share this, but a few days ago Angkor Archaeological Park, home to stupendous Angkor Wat, pictured, celebrated 30 years of its UNESCO World Heritage listing. 

That’s as good an excuse as any to put this magnificent, sprawling archaeological site on your travel list this year.

While riverside Siem Reap, your base for exploring Angkor is bustling once more, there are still nowhere near the visitors of the last busy high season months of December-January 2018-2019 when there were 290,000 visitors. 

Last month there were just 55,000 visitors and December feels a little quieter. A tour guide friend said there were about 150 people at Angkor Wat for sunrise a few days ago.

If you’re looking for tips to visiting Angkor, Siem Reap and Cambodia, just ask us a question in the comments below or check Grantourismo as we’ve got loads of info on our site. Click through to the link in the bio and explore our Cambodia guide or search for ‘Angkor’. 

And please do let us know if you’re coming to Siem Reap. We’d love to see you here x

#siemreap #cambodia #asia #travel #instatravel #traveldeeper #slowtravel #localtravel #experientialtravel #exploremore #neverstopexploring #goexplore #igtravel #angkorwat #angkor #temple #temples #angkorwithoutcrowds #unesco #unescoworldheritagesite #unescoworldheritage #archaeology #archaeologicalsite #traveladdict #beautifuldestinations #beautifulplaces #travelgram #wanderlust #picoftheday📷 #grantourismotravels.
Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky Our soy ginger chicken recipe will make you sticky, flavourful and succulent chicken thighs that are fantastic with steamed rice, Chinese greens or a salad, such as a Southeast Asian slaw. 

The chicken can be marinated for up to 24 hours before cooking, which ensures it’s packed with flavour, then it can be cooked on a barbecue or in a pan.

Terence’s soy ginger chicken recipe is one of our favourite recipes for a quick and easy meal. I love the sound of the sizzling thighs in the pan, and the warming aromas wafting through the apartment. 

It’s amazing how such flavourful juicy chicken thighs come from such a quick and easy recipe.

Recipe here (and proper link to Grantourismo in our bio): https://grantourismotravels.com/soy-ginger-chicken-recipe/

If you cook it and enjoy it please let us know — we love to hear from you — either here or in the comments at the end of the recipe on the site or share a pic with us x 

#recipe #recipes #chicken #soygingerchicken #asianfood #southeastasianfood #igfood #igfoodie #cooking #cookingtime #recipe #recipes #comfortfood #foodblog #food #foodstagram #healthyfood #instafood #healthy #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #recipedeveloper #writingacookbook #grantourismo #grantourismotravels
Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re mak Who can guess the ingredients and what we’re making with my market haul from Psar Samaki in Siem Reap — all for a whopping 10,000 riel (US$2.50)?! 

Birds-eye chillies thrown in for free! They were on my list but the seller I spent most at (5,000 riel!) scooped up a handful and slipped them into my bag. She was my last stop and knew what I was making.

My Khmer is poor, even after all our years in Cambodia, as I don’t learn languages with the ease I did in my 20s, plus I’m mentally exhausted after researching and writing all day. I have a better vocabulary of Old and Middle Khmer than modern Khmer from studying the ancient inscriptions for the Cambodian culinary history component of our cookbook I’m writing.

So when one seller totalled my purchases I thought she said 5,000 riel but she handed back 4,500 riel! The sum total of two huge bunches of herbs and kaffir lime leaves was 500 riel.

Tip: if visiting Siem Reap, use Khmer riel for local shopping. We’ve mainly used riel since the pandemic started— rarely use US$ now as market sellers quote prices in riels, as do local shops and bakeries, and I tip tuk tuk drivers in riels. I find prices quoted in riels are lower.

Psar Samaki is cheaper than Psar Leu, which is cheaper than Psar Chas, as it’s a wholesale market, which means the produce is fresher. I see veggies arriving, piled high in the back of vehicles, with dirt still on them — as I did on this trip. 

The scent of a mountain of incredibly aromatic pineapples offloaded from the back of a dusty ute was so heady they smelt like they’d just been cut. More exotic European style veggies arrive by big trucks in boxes labelled in Vietnamese (from Dalat) and Mandarin (from China), such as beautiful snow-white cauliflower I spotted.

Note: the freshest produce is sold on the dirt road at the back of the market.

#cambodia #siemreap #foodwriter #foodblogger #foodphotography #igfood #foodstagram #instafood #instafoodie #foodie #instadaily #picoftheday #market #siemreapmarket #psarsamaki #marketfresh #vegetables #healthyfood #marketshopping #traveltips #foodtravel #culinarytravel #localtravel #cooking #cookingtime #curry #homemade #currypaste #grantourismotravels
My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recip My Vietnamese-ish meatballs and rice noodles recipe makes tender meatballs doused in a delightfully tangy-sweet sauce, sprinkled with crispy fried shallots, with carrot-daikon, crunchy cucumber and fragrant herbs. 

The dish is inspired by bún chả, a Hanoi specialty, but it’s not bún chả. No matter what Google or food bloggers tell you. Names are important, especially when cooking and writing about cuisines not our own.

This is an authentic bún chả recipe:  https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-bun-cha-recipe/ You’ll need to get the outdoor BBQ/grill going to do proper smoky bún chả meat patties (not meatballs).

My meatball noodle bowl is perhaps more closely related to dishes such as a Central Vietnam cousin bún thịt nướng (pork skewers on rice noodles in a bowl) and a Southern relation bún bò Nam Bộ (beef atop rice noodles, sprinkled with fried shallots (Nam Bộ=Southern Vietnam) though neither include meatballs. 

Xíu mại= meatballs although they’re different in flavour to mine, which taste more like bún chả patties. Xíu mại remind me of Southern Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, home to millions of Khmer, there’s bánh tằm xíu mại. Bánh tằm=silk worm noodles. They’re topped with meatballs, cucumber, daikon, carrot, fresh herbs, crispy fried onions. Difference: cold noodles doused in a sauce of coconut cream and fish sauce. 

Remove the meatballs, add chopped fried spring rolls and it’s Cambodia’s banh sung, which is a rice noodle salad similar to Vietnam’s bún chả giò :) 

Recipe here: (link in bio) https://grantourismotravels.com/vietnamese-meatballs-and-rice-noodles-recipe/

For more on these culinary connections you’ll have to wait for our Cambodian cookbook and culinary history. In a hurry to know? Come support the project on Patreon. (link in bio)

#recipe #recipes #vietnamesefood #cambodianfood #asianfood #southeastasianfood #ricenoodles #rice #noodlebowl #meatballs #igfood #igfoodie #foodblog #food #foodstagram #instafood  #instafoodie #foodie #foodies #foodlover #foodpics #foodporn #foodphotography #foodwriter #foodblogger #writingacookbook #writingacambodiancookbook #patreon #patreoncreator #grantourismo
It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour It is pure coincidence that Pepper’s eye colour matches the furnishings of our rented apartment. So, no, I did not colour-coordinate the interiors to match our cat’s eyes. 

I keep getting DMs from pet clothing brands wanting to “partner” with Pepper and send her free cat clothes and cat accessories. Although she did wear a kerchief for a few years in her more adventurous fashion-forward teenage years, I cannot see this cat in clothes now, can you? 

#pepper #blackcat #blackcats #blackcatsofinstagram #blackcatsrule #blackcatsmatter #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #catlover #catlovers #catlove #catoftheday #catphoto #catpic #catpics #cambodiancat #cambodiancatsofinstagram #catlife #catloversclub #catoftheday #catgram #catstagram #cats_of_instagram #catphotography #catsofig #catsoftheworld #catsofinsta #cats🐱 #siemreap #cambodia

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