Rosewood Phnom Penh is launching the first annual Taste of Cambodia, an immersive culinary event celebrating Cambodia’s vibrant food and drink scene. The event will take place from September 12-15, featuring bar and kitchen takeovers, charity dinners, and a Sunday brunch. The event will also include a charity dinner on September 14, where five chefs will unite to raise funds for Smiling Gecko, a partner of Rosewood Phnom Penh that supports around 30,000 Khmer residents through education, vocational training, and sustainable farming projects.
“The Taste of Cambodia is more than just a dining experience,” says Daniel Simon, Managing Director of Rosewood Phnom Penh. “It’s a celebration of the country’s emergence on the global dining scene and rich culinary heritage. From our partners bringing unique dishes and drinks from abroad to the locally sourced products from our friends at Smiling Gecko, every moment of this event highlights Cambodia’s dynamic growth and promising future.”
The Taste of Cambodia event will kick off with a Nikka Whisky takeover on September 12. Japan’s iconic maker of single malts and versatile blends will establish a presence at the Whisky Library for an entire year – a first for Cambodia. This prestigious partnership allows guests to sample the brand’s distinguished spirits while enjoying the elegant ambiance of Rosewood Phnom Penh’s cozy, club-like bar and lounge.
On September 13, Hisatsugu Saito from Sapporo’s renowned Bar Owl & Rooster will host an extraordinary guest shift at Sora. Saito will stir up the signature cocktails that catapulted Owl & Rooster onto Asia’s 50 Best Bars Discovery list – all featuring Nikka Whisky. While sipping Saito’s handcrafted creations, guests can savor Bubbles and oyster sets, including a bottle of Luc Belaire sparkling wine and two dozen oysters, while lingering at Sora.
On September 13 and 14, Chef Alexis Moko, hailing from the one-Michelin-starred Moko in Kyoto, will bring his hyper-seasonal, Japanese-inspired French cooking to CUTS steak and seafood grill, which has been recognized as a World’s 50 Best Discovery restaurant by World’s Best 50 and named Best Restaurant in Cambodia by Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia. Moko’s three- and five-course set menus will feature beef striploin with baked beetroot, fermented black garlic, miso and red wine jus, and sea bass with Champagne sauce and caviar.
On Saturday, September 14, Rosewood Phnom Penh’s contemporary Chinese restaurant Zhan Liang will host a special four-hands dinner uniting the hotel’s own Chef Teng Kam Seng with Chef Matthew Geng from Nan Bei, the award-winning Chinese restaurant at the Rosewood Bangkok. The dynamic duo will craft refined Chinese delicacies, including Chef Teng’s steamed Australian abalone and Chef Matthew’s M9 Mayura Wagyu striploin with asparagus and Kampot black pepper.
On September 14, the IBC Annual Ball at Salon 1 will showcase a spectacular 10-hands charity dinner led by an all-star line-up of Chefs Alexis Moko from Moko; Sothea Seng, owner of Siem Reap’s farm-to-table restaurant Lum Orng; Villa 5 chef and cookbook author Sopheak.
Sao; Mariya Un Noun, the celebrity chef who leads the Farmhouse Restaurants at Smiling Gecko; and Sonara Sieng, Rosewood Phnom Penh’s renowned pastry chef.
Each chef will draw on their unique expertise, from French fine dining to innovative Khmer cuisine, delighting guests with highlights like Ambok rice-crusted scallops, beef tenderloin with smoked brisket, and a dark chocolate ball with “gecko” vanilla cream.
Proceeds from the dinner will benefit Smiling Gecko. One of Rosewood Phnom Penh’s community partners, this inspiring Cambodian initiative empowers communities through education and sustainable development projects, including a farming project that supplies the hotel with high-quality produce and artisanal products.
On September 15, the weekend will conclude on a high note with a free-flow Sunday brunch at Brasserie Louis, Rosewood Phnom Penh’s destination for French comfort food and Khmer favorites. From unlimited Luc Belaire sparkling wine to hand-crafted cocktails, live music, and a bountiful spread – including fresh seafood, European cheeses, live carving and pastry stations, and masterful French and Khmer dishes – it’s sure to be a grand Taste of Cambodia finale.
For more information, please visit https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/phnom penh/dining/taste-of-Cambodia or to reserve a table for any Taste of Cambodia experiences, please get in touch with Rosewood Phnom Penh at +855 23 936 860 or email
phnompenh.fnbreservation@rosewoodhotels.com.
