What’s the best local dish you’ve ever eaten while travelling?
Cambodia gave us plenty of unforgettable experiences.
Angkor Wat was extraordinary, as were the ancient temples slowly being reclaimed by enormous trees and roots. Phare Circus in Siem Reap was another highlight: energetic, creative and deeply Cambodian in the way it combined circus, music, storytelling and contemporary life.
Even the roadside stops were memorable. At one, local children appeared with live tarantulas, cheerfully placing them on startled tourists. Fried tarantulas were also available for those brave enough to try them. I wasn’t.
But one of my strongest memories is the food, especially Fish Amok. It is a wonderfully delicate Cambodian dish: fish cooked with coconut milk and spices, traditionally steamed in banana leaves until it develops an almost custard-like texture. We ordered it repeatedly while we were there.
Perhaps that is why I still associate it so strongly with Cambodia. Some food seems to belong to a place. You can eat it elsewhere, but somehow it never carries quite the same meaning. The ingredients include more than what is on the plate: the heat, the streets, the temples, the people and everything you have experienced that day.
My perfect evening in Cambodia remains very simple: Fish Amok for dinner, followed by a night at Phare Circus.
Fish Amok is not easy to find in Australia. We have Thai and Vietnamese restaurants everywhere, but Cambodian restaurants are much less common. When I do come across one, I always look for Fish Amok on the menu.
Perhaps I’m not simply looking for the dish. I’m looking to experience Cambodia again.
The Afterword 
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