by Editor | Aug 27, 2012 | Restaurants
By Elena del Valle
Photos by Gary Cox
Chef Luke Dale-Roberts preparing plates at The Test Kitchen
On a visit to Cape Town, South Africa earlier this year we had dinner at two gourmet restaurants that although distinct from each other in many ways shared a common passion for fine dinning. One provided an urban chic experience and the other offered classic fine dining in a romantic setting.
“Shot Pigeon” at The Test Kitchen
For a hip urban dining experience we enjoyed the extended tasting menu at The Test Kitchen. Chef Luke Dale-Roberts was in his element blending common and exotic flavors. There was a long wait list for dinner reservations at the sold out restaurant with modern décor within the Old Biscuit Mill, a renovated mall in an industrial corner of the city. Although there was little activity in the shopping center at night inside the restaurant it was loud and fast paced. It was an entertaining evening. From our Chef’s Table seats we had an opportunity to watch the chef and his staff up close at work in the open kitchen.
The Roundhouse Restaurant has a water facing view
The Roundhouse, a short drive from the center of the city, was the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. Many restaurants with a view such as theirs dedicate little effort to the meal and service. The opposite was true at the purportedly haunted property. A team of friendly and efficient staff in the dining room complimented the efforts of the kitchen staff, delivering a perfectly prepared and artfully served meal with wine pairings to match the sunset views of Camps Bay. Dinner that night combined gourmet dining and a stunning natural setting in one place.
View of the Twelve Apostles and Camps Bay from The Roundhouse picnic area
by Editor | Jul 23, 2012 | Restaurants
By Elena del Valle
Photos by Gary Cox
The entrance to BistroSixteen82 was inside the Steenberg wine tasting area
During a recent stay at the Steenberg hotel in Constantia, a verdant wine growing suburb of Cape Town, South Africa we had a good informal dining experience at BistroSixteen82. Catharina’s, the hotel’s main dining restaurant, was closed Saturday night so we had an early dinner (to accommodate to the eatery’s hours of operation) at the bistro.
The tasting area had a view into the wine production facility
Although the bistro was on the Steenberg property it was a long walk and the punishing summer heat could still be felt so we climbed aboard the hotel’s air conditioned courtesy van and within five minutes we had circled around from the reception building to the wine tasting and BistroSixteen82 building, built after our previous stay.
The kitchen and deli areas were at the entrance to the bistro
The bistro and wine tasting area shared a common entrance and both looked out onto an inviting sunny terrace and lawn with water features. While activity in the tasting section was decreasing the restaurant, full of local families and many children, was loud and active. We were supposed to have a wine tasting first but a scheduling error meant it was too late for a tasting. After the tasting area staff explained the situation we made our way to the bistro.
Natalie reviewed the menu with us
We hesitated in approaching the young man at the entrance since we were early for our reservation and it was evident the restaurant was busy. Somehow he managed to find us a table and a few minutes later we were happily contemplating options from the chalkboard menu. Although service was very relaxed Natalie, our server, was friendly and knew the menu well. Her suggestions were helpful.
Deli Platter
Steak Tataki
Grilled Gambas
We had profiteroles with a praline base and caramel sauce
We ordered and enjoyed: Bistro dinner Deli Platter with olives, caperberries, assorted local deli meats, small salad, gherkins and bread slices; Grilled Gambas (prawns); Steak Tataki which was delicious with an Asian touch; Papas Bravas served with mayonnaise and pasta sauce; and profiteroles with a praline base and caramel sauce. We washed the meal down with a glass of house wine, Catharina and Nebbiolo. Next time we stay at the Steenberg or in the Constantia area we would gladly return to BistroSixteen82, 10802 Steenberg Estate, Tokai Road, Tokai 7945, +27 21 713 22 11, www.steenberghotel.com/dine/bistro-sixteen82, reservations@bistro1682.co.za.
by Editor | Jul 2, 2012 | Restaurants
By Elena del Valle
Photos by Gary Cox
The tapas board
During our visit to the Constantia wine producing area on the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa earlier this year we dined at La Colombe, a popular gourmet restaurant for many years. Its reputation preceded it. Securing a table on a Saturday night required advance planning before arriving in South Africa. The restaurant was located within the well known Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate. Although it was only a short drive away from our accommodations we made our way there thanks to our hotel’s courtesy transport so we wouldn’t need to drive and find our way back across the dark and unfamiliar roads following a lengthy tasting menu with wine pairing meal.
Johan, the restaurant manager and Faye, our server
When we arrived the well lit interior of the restaurant revealed a near full dining room. Johan, the restaurant manager, greeted us and moments later we were seated in a corner indoor table in the middle section of the restaurant. There were outdoor tables in a courtyard adjacent to a water feature on the other side of a set of sliding glass doors next to my seat. The staff used those doors for ingress and egress to that part of the restaurant and at times the movement was distracting.
The menu board
After introducing herself our server brought the daily a la carte menu which was written on a black board. The eight course Tasting Menu with wine, with a cost of 850 rand (it was available for 625 rand without wine), we had was presented in a printout sheet.
King crab with apple and crisp kataifi
After ensuring we were settled down with a glass of sparkling Constantia Uitsig wine and pre-appetizers and taking our order Faye, our server, returned to her other tables while we took time to observe our surroundings. From where I sat on an armless chair (less than comfortable) I could see part of the kitchen which was adjacent to the entrance area dining room. The restaurant appeared to be divided into three main areas: the entrance dining room, the central dining room where we were, and a courtyard dining area next to ours. The restaurant’s understated décor with earth tones was the first thing I noticed. I had the impression that we were sharing dining space with the many other guests in someone’s former home. Background music and kitchen sounds, reminiscent of an urban eatery (a bit too loud for conversation or romance), filled the air.
Salmon carpaccio and tartare
Our tapas of caramelized onion tart with foie gras, Thai seafood veloute, and beef carpaccio with mushroom gnocchi sat atop a wood board. There were three types of bread to temp us, sun dried tomato, French and seeded multigrain. Butter, balsamic vinegar and Willow Creek Virgin Olive Oil were available to accompany our bread.
Quail and foie gras
Our first dinner dishes consisted of Alaskan king crab, apple, cucumber, red onion and pickled ginger, kalamansi veil, lime dressing and crisp kataifi served with 2011 Constantia Uitsig Sauvignon Blanc. Next, there was a salmon Carpaccio and tartare, pickled shitake, avocado, red onion, ginger, yuzu, sesame foam, salsa verde and nori puffs served with 2010 Mellasat White Pinotage from Paarl. Ballontine of quail and foie gras, poached figs, fig dressing, hazelnut chocolate truffle and toasted brioche served with 2011 Cederberg Bukkentraube was next. There were too many flavors for us to enjoy the delicate foie gras taste. Then, there was a salty and crunchy dish of Scallops and confit pork belly, smoked parsnip puree, black forest ham veloute, crisp pork crackling, and lemon and pea dressing served with 2010 Sequillo White Blend from Swartland. A palate cleanser of Pineapple granite, Malibu jelly, and Piña Colada foam followed (a favorite).
Scallops and pork belly
Pan fried springbok topped with foie gras on wilted baby spinach, roasted garlic, shimiji mushrooms, potato fondant and truffle jus served with 2009 Eikendal Charisma from Stellenbosch was next. It was followed by a cheese dish of Pecorino crème Catalan, red onion and port jelly and caraway biscuits. Dessert of Smoked chocolate torte, hazelnut semifreddo, cognac marshmallow, coffee meringue, tobacco caramel served with non vintage Signal Hill Empereur Rouge Natural Sweet wine from Paarl completed the meal.
Pan fried springbok with foie gras
Staff were attentive. When a hapless fly dropped in my glass of wine our server replaced the glass with a fresh one. When guests stepped away from their table a staff member folded their napkins. Wines were served well and with care.
Executive Chef Scot Kirton
At the end of the meal, when things quieted down, we had a chance to meet Scot Kirton, the friendly executive chef who took over the kitchens in 2010. Our Tasting Menu was generous in the number of courses and rich in flavors and variety of ingredients (sometimes to the detriment of a dish). Some of the tables had rose petals strewn about indicating the occupants were celebrating a special occasion. The sold out restaurant evidently remained a popular choice. La Colombe, Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town, http://www.constantia-uitsig.com/pages/restaurants/la-colombe.php, lacolombe@uitsig.co.za
by Editor | Mar 12, 2012 | Attractions, Luxury Travel, Restaurants
Article by Laura Scheiber
Photos by Matthew Harris
Coopers Beach, Southampton
When I moved to New York City years ago, a friend advised me that the only way to survive the City’s hectic lifestyle was to get out once a month. I couldn’t agree more. A weekend in Southampton, New York, was the perfect combination of a tranquil and easy getaway in an upscale setting with natural beauty and interesting local history. Because we went in the fall, we were able to enjoy the many delights of this famous retreat for the rich and famous, without the notorious summertime crowds.
Located on the southeastern end of Long Island, New York, Southampton is one of a number of prestigious villages collectively known as the Hamptons. The village was the first English settlement in the state of New York, dating all the way back to 1640; and as I soon learned, one of its most charming attributes was its rich history.
Bruce Michael, our enthusiastic tour guide
We arrived Friday evening after a two and half hour train ride from Penn Station, New York. The next day was a beautiful sunny but blustery fall day, and we were excited to discover the many treasures of this exclusive village. We met Bruce Michael, a local resident and tour guide, who led us on a fascinating historical journey of Southampton (Bruce Michael Guided Tours, 327 Central Park West Apt 2C, New York, NY 10025, +1 917 623 6602, http://www.discoverlongisland.com/visitors/more-info.aspx?cli_number=6727&major=, BruceMK@aol.com). What we liked about Bruce Michael as a tour guide was his genuine enthusiasm for the area, as well as the historical insight he provided about the high society families that have resided in Southampton over the last two centuries. We started in the center of town on Jobs Lane, a picturesque tree-shaded street lined with upscale boutiques.
The Parrish Art Museum
Our first stop was the Parrish Art Museum (25 Jobs Lane, Southampton, NY 11968, +1 631 283 2118, fax +1 631 283 7006, http://parrishart.org/, info@parrishart.org). Founded in 1897 by Samuel Longstreth Parrish, a discerning art collector, the museum has since housed a permanent collection of over 2,600 pieces by prominent artists who have lived or worked in the area, including Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein, William Merritt Chase and Fairfield Porter. Select works were displayed throughout the year in the museum’s changing exhibitions.
Rogers Mansion, headquarters of the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center
After leaving the Parrish Art Museum, we walked up the street to a beautifully preserved Greek revival style home called Rogers Mansion, the headquarters of the Southampton Historical Museums and Research Center (17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton, NY 11969, +1 631 283 2494, fax +1 631 283 4540, www.southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org, info@southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org). We explored a handful of period rooms decorated in original furnishings, paintings and books of the home, originally built in 1843 for a wealthy whaling captain. I was particularly moved by the display of photos and newspaper articles describing the 1938 New England hurricane that devastated the area and was responsible for over 600 deaths in Long Island and southern New England. Just behind the mansion was the Old Southampton Village, made up of historic structures, such as a blacksmith’s shop, a paint shop and a colonial-era barn.
The Thomas Halsey Homestead
Next, we hopped in a van and visited the Thomas Halsey Homestead, just outside of the center of town (249 South Main Street, Southampton, NY 11969, +1 631 283 2494, fax +1 631 283 4540, http://southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org/museummain.asp?id=3). Built circa 1660, it is believed to be the oldest English-style house in New York State. We walked through the carefully curated rooms filled with original 17th and 18th century artifacts, such as open hearth cooking tools, a spinning wheel, and religious propaganda aimed at converting Native Americans.
The Thomas Halsey Homestead, living standards have changed a lot since 1660
The final stop on our tour was Coopers Beach, a beautifully manicured sandy white beach, roughly 1.8 miles from the center of town. The pristine beach was virtually empty, which made for a tranquil setting. Simply breathing in the fresh seaside air while watching waves crash along the seashore had a calming effect on me.
Heading back to the center of town, we drove down a grid of well-groomed streets lined with palatial mansions. Manors surrounding Lake Agawam had bragging rights to some of the most expensive real estate in the United States, and served as summer homes to some of America’s most prestigious families. The two-hour historical tour served as an excellent introduction to some of the village’s most important historical sites and captured my imagination of earlier times in Southampton.
The Driver’s Seat Restaurant
After the tour we enjoyed lunch at the Driver’s Seat Restaurant (66 Jobs Lane, Southampton, NY 11968, +1 631 283 6606, fax +1 631 283 6607, http://www.thedriversseatrestaurant.com/The_Drivers_Seat_Restaurant/Home.html, driversseatrestaurant@gmail.com). The ambiance was a pleasant mix of laid back pub with upscale touches, including a fresh bouquet of roses on every table and white-linen table clothes. We had a friendly chat with the owner, who made us feel welcome. The food was tasty and satisfying. I appreciated the varied and reasonably priced menu, particularly in comparison to some of the other overpriced establishments we visited throughout the weekend.
Jobs Lane in the center of Southampton, home to elegant boutiques
We spent the rest of the afternoon casually strolling down Main Street and Jobs Lane, popping in and out of the many exclusive shops and boutiques. I liked that the diverse clothing stores, antiques, and high-end furniture and jewelry stores were within walking distance, making Southampton an elite shopper’s delight. Above and beyond shopping, the well-preserved historic architecture gave the area a colonial feel, added to its overall charm and made walking around the town center particularly pleasant.
Wolffer Estate Vineyard
Just before sunset, we took a 15-minute car ride to Wolffer Estate Vineyard (139 Sagg Road, PO Box 9002, Sagaponack, NY 11962, +1 631 537 5106, fax +1 631 537 5107, www.wolffer.com, info@wolffer.com). The Tuscan-style villa looked out onto 55 acres of beautifully landscaped vineyards. I felt as if we had been transported to a European winery somewhere in the countryside. Wolffer Estate offered tastings ranging in price from $12 to $18 for four distinct wines. Our tasting began with the 2010 Grandioso Rose, followed by the 2007 Sparkling Brut, Blanc de Blanc, the 2008 Perle Chardonnay, and the 2008 Caya Cabernet Franc. Each of the wines had a distinct and appealing flavor. I jotted down their names so I could ask my local wine shop to order the ones I had sampled. Upon leaving the vineyard, I could not resist purchasing a bottle of the 2008 Perle Chardonnay as a reminder of our pleasant visit to Wolffer Estate.
One of the perks of our weekend getaway was its close proximity to New York City and convenient transportation options. Because we did not want to rent a car, we took the Long Island Rail Road departing from Penn Station in New York City, a two and a half hour relaxed journey. Cabs were waiting for us on our arrival at the train station of Southampton. Hometown Taxi charged $10 for my travel partner and I to go to the center of town five minutes away (425 County Road 39A, Southampton, NY 11968, +1 631 287 5200).
By the end of the weekend, I felt refreshed and ready to return to the faster-paced lifestyle of New York City. Overall we had a delightful autumn weekend in Southampton. The hassle-free travel from New York City, and slow-paced setting of the upscale village with its rich history and diverse attractions provided a wonderful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
by Editor | Feb 20, 2012 | Restaurants
Article and photos by Elena del Valle
Lunch at Papillote Wilderness Retreat and Tropical Garden
While in Dominica, an ecotourism destination in the Caribbean, I enjoyed mostly organic meals. At the Pavilion Restaurant, the restaurant of the Jungle Bay Resort & Spa where I stayed, the meals were organic. Ingredients at the responsible tourism oriented property were sourced locally. I also liked the opportunity they offered guests to sample Dominican dishes and beverages. At breakfast, there were local tea bags and fresh cocoa tea. One day they made lemongrass tea with fresh plucked lemongrass I brought from a hike. Enjoyment of the healthy food at the poolside restaurant was enhanced by a direct view of the Atlantic Ocean.
Local fruits
Nearby, at the Riverside Cafe in the Citrus Creek Plantation at La Plaine (Taberi La Plaine + 1 767 446 1234,www.citruscreekplantation.com, riverside@citruscreekplantation.com) I enjoyed the most flavorful and refined meal during my week long visit to the island. The Citrus Creek Plantation, a French owned luxury real estate community under development on the Taberi River near Turtle Beach, was open for lunch (dinner on request). Patricia Charpentier, a native of Normandy, France with life experience in the kitchen, cooked with mostly garden and locally grown and sourced products.
Patricia Charpentier of the Riverside Cafe
While I tasted the green mango, cytere and prune juice (plastic bottled soft drinks were banned) Hervé “RV” Nizard, the owner, described the projects that were being developed on the riverside property. I sampled the Tasting Platter of fried sweet potatoes, boiled plantains, mashed pumpkin, carambola (starfruit), ginger pork, wonderful homemade mustard salad dressing, salted codfish with lime, shredded cabbage, spicy seafood with coconut milk, green papaya and a fresh salad with zeb couresse fragrant creole leaves, and served with French red table wine.
Dessert was chocolate cake made with imported French dark chocolate from neighboring Guadeloupe and served with organic mint, bananas and cinnamon from the garden. It was uber moist and served with banana slices. I fell in love with Charpentier’s carambola and carambola and bitter orange jams. The open air garden side cafe filled with the sounds of the river and insects (not the biting kind) was a most attractive setting to dine and make the meal memorable.
Charpentier’s carambola and carambola and bitter orange jams and chocolate dessert
Lunch at Le Flambeau Restaurant
At the beachfront and informal Le Flambeau Restaurant at the Portsmouth Beach Hotel (Picard Plantation, off Robert Ross Blvd, North West Dominica, +767 445-5142, www.leflambeaudominica.com, pbh@cwdom.dm) on the northwest corner of the island I had freshwater crayfish washed down with passion fruit juice followed by coconut and guava ice cream and chocolate cake, both homemade. From my simple plastic chair and table I gazed onto a pretty quiet beach while, occasionally, stray dogs wondered in searching for leftovers.
Caribe cooking
In Roseau, I had a delicious local style lunch at the Talipot Gallery within walking distance of my hotel. The art gallery cum restaurant with a view of the Caribbean from the verandah was owned by Nancy Osler. On offer were Dominican and international dishes in the restaurant that catered to locals and visitors. The meals at the Fort Young Hotel, where I stayed, were made fresh daily with local products. The water fronting restaurant offered a lovely setting and views of the Caribbean, the southern end of the island and a partial view of the town. The smoked marlin appetizer on the dinner menu was a favorite of mine.
Anne Jno Baptiste, co-owner, Papillote Wilderness Retreat and Tropical Garden
At the 14-acre Papillote Wilderness Retreat and Tropical Garden (P. O. Box 2287, Trafalgar Falls Road, Roseau, + 767 448 2287, Fax + 767 448 2285 papillote@cwdom.dm ,www.papillote.dm, http://www.papillotegardens.org) in the verdant Roseau River Valley minutes from Roseau yet feeling a world away I had a locally sourced organic meal. During my midday visit I had an opportunity to meet Anne Jno Baptiste, a gracious lady and one of the owners of the property. An enthusiastic staff member guided us around the gardens in the pouring rain (with umbrellas) until my shoes were so wet they made a squishing noise when I walked. In spite of the rainy weather I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and would be pleased to return to explore the gardens in the sunshine, indulge in a hot springs dip and sample other dishes.
by Editor | Dec 5, 2011 | Restaurants
Article and photos by Elena del Valle
Braised “prahok” with coconut milk at Cuisine Wat Damnak
It was a rainy night in Siem Reap, Cambodia and I was hungry after spending the better part of the day in tourist endeavors. I was scheduled to have dinner with a friend who called Cambodia’s most popular tourist city home. We had narrowed our choices down to two, Italian for a comfort food meal or as my friend put it, “interesting” food at a newly opened gourmet Khmer restaurant owned by Joannès Riviere, the former chef of the Hotel de la Paix in Siem Reap (see Delicious tasting menus at Meric in Siem Reap, Cambodia) for five years and a native of Rhone, France. Italian we could eat anytime. A gourmet Khmer meal, at least for me, was a limited time option since I was leaving the following day. We called Cuisine Wat Damnak and were fortunate to find a table as a large group had booked most of the restaurant that night. The restaurant was named Wat Damnak for the pagoda next to the restaurant and the area where it is located.
Carol Salmon and Joannès Riviere of Cuisine Wat Damnak
“We decided to call it like this in honor of this neighborhood we’ve been living in since we arrived in Cambodia,” said Carole Salmon, a native of Nantes and one of the owners. “It is also a way to indicate where we are since we are a little bit out of the way. Cuisine because it is a French word (and we are French) that either means kitchen, cooking and gastronomy at the same time. Our vision was to create a place entirely dedicated to Cambodian food.”
Steamed Mekong langoustine with rice wine and Kurata pepper
Pan fried wild snakehead fish and eggplant
There were two set menu options with amouse bouche, a four course ($17) and a five course ($24) selection, presented in a four-page printed menu with beverages in the first and last pages and the set menus in the middle. There were four types of cocktails, a variety of spirits and aperitifs, Cambodian, Asian and European beer options, soft drinks, mineral water, two types of cider and a selection of red, white and rosé wines from Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Free range chicken and grilled garlic sour soup
We both chose the five course menus: Siem reap sausage and cucumber salad with dry shrimp and chili; Steamed Mekong langoustine with rice wine and Kurata pepper; Free range chicken and grilled garlic sour soup with purple yam and wild mushrooms; Braised “prahok” with coconut milk; pan fried wild snakehead fish and eggplant, and Chocolate and wild cardamon light ganache, cashew nut praliné and puffed rice. We shared a bottle of red wine to accompany the meal.
Dinner in the air conditioned and colorful restaurant was very good. Staff were friendly and helpful and the set menu was satisfying. There were enough exotic ingredients to make it fun without any seriously challenging flavors. It was one of my favorite meals during my 10 day visit to Cambodia.
Chocolate and wild cardamon light ganache, cashew nut praliné and puffed rice
At the end when all the guests were gone Chef Riviere and Salmon, the owners, joined us briefly for a drink. The chef had learned to cook with his father who was a chef and an organic vegetable farmer and his grandmother who graduated from the Cordon Bleu cooking school in the 1950s. The young couple from France had recently had a baby and opened their new restaurant almost at the same time. Cuisine Wat Damnak restaurant (Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia +855 (0) 63 965 491, www.cuisinewatdamnak.com, info@cuisinewatdamnak.com).
A refined dinner at Raffles Hotel Le Royal
The food I sampled in Cambodia was surprisingly flavorful and, in some cases, refined. In Phnom Penh, the capital city, the restaurants at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, my hotel, were good and quite convenient. I was particularly impressed with Le Royal the hotel’s fine dining restaurant which was managed by Christoph Sclatter, a Swiss executive with exacting expectations and great enthusiasm. My dinner on a quiet night was a blend of recreated traditional Khmer dishes from the royal household and western dishes like tuna tartare and crepes suzette prepared table side.
Crepes for dessert at Raffles Hotel Le Royal
A nice chicken mayonnaise amouse bouche was the first eatable item to arrive at my table. In addition to the tuna, which was served with a full compliment of condiments, I sampled the Duck consomme with Takoe River lobster won tons; Takoe River lobster with coconut milk and red curry (mild at my request); and a delicate and perfectly cooked Black cod with fish eggs and Madagascar vanilla sauce.
Khmer Kitchen, a family owned restaurant in central Siem Reap
My favorite dish at Khmer Kitchen
The owners of Khmer Kitchen
I spent twice as much time in Siem Reap as I did in the capital. The extra time afforded me the opportunity to dine at several places. Khmer Kitchen, a family owned restaurant founded by Perk Sophalon, on Pup Street in the heart of the tourist area of the city, served tasty Khmer dishes including the traditional Amok with fish. Their recipe was savory and flavorful. While I’m no expert in Khmer dishes, it was my favorite Amok dish. I also enjoyed their fruit juice. Started in 2000 with four tables the popular restaurant had grown to two locations 200 meters apart. Khmer Kitchen Restaurant & Khmer Kitchen Restaurant BBQ (#203 Group 6 Khum Svay Dang Kum, Siem Reap Kingdom of Cambodia, +855 63 964154, 855 77688677, info@khmerkitchens.com, www.khmerkitchens.com).
The owners of The Sugar Palm Restaurant & Bar, an open air restaurant in a two-story building
Crispy rolls at The Sugar Palm
On another rainy night I visited the Sugar Palm Restaurant and Bar, owned by Bruce and Kethana Dunnet who had moved to Siem Reap from New Zealand (Kethana was originally from Cambodia). The open air restaurant was on the upstairs of a two story building with indoor and terrace seating, high ceilings and fans to cool guests. There was artwork for sale on the walls and Cambodian music played in the background. I liked the crispy rolls made with fine noodles and served with julienne of green papaya and sweet sauce; the minced pork eggplant had a smokey sweet delicious flavor.
The only down side was finding a tuk tuk (covered bicycle for hire commonly used in Siem Reap) to take me back to my hotel. After a long wait, about 40 minutes, two showed up but refused to take me because they didn’t know where my hotel was located. In the end, the kind server offered me a ride on his motorbike. By then the rain had become a drizzle and I gladly accepted. Sugar Palm Restaurant & Bar (Taphul Road, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia, +855 63 964 838).
