Wordless Wednesday 033: Giant shrimps of Kep

You're always on my mind!

Food Trip Friday 013: Steamed Fish

Again, a favorite fare whenever we are in Kep. Kim Ly's restaurant never fails to satisfy stomachs hungry for seafood!


Steamed fish with soy sauce and garlic, served on a bed of fresh herbs, cucumber, tomato, lettuce and onion. Ooh-la-la!

Food Trip Friday 012: Mok chaa mareth

One of the reasons why my husband and I keep on coming back to Kep:



Seafoods trip!
Above is our favorite, mok chaa mareth kchhay (fried squid with young peppercorn). Fresh squid caught the night before from the Gulf of Thailand, blended with oyster and chilli sauces, and spiced up with Kampot peppercorn grown in the lush mountains of Phnom Voar, the last refuge of Khmer Rouge soldiers. We washed down the spicy flavor with fresh coconut juice. Hayyy, heaven on earth!

I tried several times to cook this at home but I never got the taste right. Oh well, as wise folks say... try and try... and try again.

Food Trip Friday 011: Samlor kari saramann

A month ago, my husband came home from work and surprised me with a copy of From Spiders to Waterlilies: Creative Cambodian cooking with Friends. I squealed in delight! He and I, we love Khmer food and he knows how much I like experimenting in the kitchen. So one day, to show my appreciation to his sweet gesture, I made him samlor kari saramann (Khmer Muslim Beef Curry). I substituted beef with pork because we don't usually have beef in stock. I also added vegetables which are not present in the original recipe. It is easy to prepare but requires a lot of preparations like making the curry paste - pounding fresh lemon grass, coriander, ginger, garlic and shallots into paste. But it's all worth it.


My labor of love... need I say how much my husband loved it?

This dish is served with either rice or nompang, a local French bread, at Muslim as well as Buddhist weddings in Cambodia. I was told that it tastes even better the next day.

Come back on Sunday for the recipe.

Food Trip Friday 010: Otap and brownies

Nothing beats the feeling of getting not one, but two boxful of sweet goodies from a very dear friend, Redlan.



Although I didn't get any of those sweets, these two feisty borloloys (rascals) were the happy recipients. They told me over the phone that the otap and brownies were manamit guid (yummy) and that they brushed their teeth without so much prodding after wolfing down the treats (their Grandma's words) para indi kuno sakit ila teeth (to avoid toothache). *lol*

See those excited faces? Self control, Joshua, Beebop. Gotta have the pictures first.

Salamat guid, Red. Hope next year, magkitaay na guid kita ya.

Food Trip Friday 009: Taro spring roll

My favorite snack - taro spring roll. Wonderful blend of shredded taro, pork, and shrimps with secret spices, fried and dipped in Khmer sweet and sour sauce.

Food Trip Friday 008: Malpuwa Khuwa

This week, dessert is on me; this time it's Nepali:

Malpuwa Khuwa, Nepalese mini pancake topped with Khuwa

It was, about two years ago, in Nepal that I had one of the most delightful dining experiences of my life. Come with me as I relive my old-world dining experience in Nepal.