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: Moul Jetr. |
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The craze
for grilled chicken with papaya salad is now sweeping
Phnom Penh. Better known to the locals as Muan Ang
and Bok Lahong, this combination is often served
with steaming glutinous rice baked in a neatly woven
straw canister.
In the evenings, swarms of people cross the Chroy
Changvar Bridge (Japanese Friendship Bridge) for
a serving of tasty, delicious Muan Ang and Bok Lahong
from the restaurant strip of Preak Leap. The aroma
of this local specialty in the air has an almost
magical power. All restaurants in this "foodland"
across the bridge serve this magical meal. On this
side of the Tonle Sap, however, there is a cozy
corner of the street unofficially known by most
as French Street that serves this magical dish as
well. |
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This is the "Beer
Garden" managed by the Sharaton Cambodia Hotel at
5 French Street, officially known as Street 47, near the
famous Wat Phnom. This comfortable hideaway is open from
5 pm to midnight daily throughout the year.
Ms. Prak Bunnary, 26, master chef at the Beer Garden said
that she serves only young chicken weighing less than
1.2 kilos each. This is to ensure that the servings are
tender. She prepares the sauce to a special secret formula,
ensuring the texture and taste of her chicken remains
succulent and moist. She believes this is why her restaurant
is always packed.
"A testimony to the success of my personal formula,"
she beamed.
Dishes are all very reasonably priced: A skewer of chicken
liver and gizzard is only 1,000 Riels; a skewer of chicken
wings 1,500 Riels, a leg and thigh 3,000 Riels and a half
chicken only 6,000 Riels. She explained that her most
popular dinner combination was the grilled half chicken
with Bok Lahong (Papaya salad) and a portion of glutinous
rice served in a palm leaf canister. This set costs just
US$2.50. |
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She added
that her regulars come for her special sauces as
much as the chicken and spicy salad. There are two
types of sauce to satisfy her customers' palate:
One is a Cambodian favorite nicknamed the 'triple-gem'
- a sweet, sour and not so spicy mix. Then there
is another variation nicknamed "Thai Explosive",
which is also sweet and sour but much spicier because
of added chilly mix to satisfy her Thai and other
foreign customers. When pushed to reveal her secret
formula in the preparation and seasoning of the
chicken pieces, Ms. Bunnary smiled.
"Besides the seasoning process, so much depends
on chef's patience and skill. The seasoning ingredients
are just ordinary soy sauce, white garlic, white
pepper, oyster oil and lots of patience in handling
the grill. It is a gift, I suppose."
Mr. Sim Dara, Resident Manager of the Sharaton Hotel
who has been with the hotel since 1994, dropped
in by the Beer Garden and seemed pleased with his
staff of 12 well-trained personnel in neat uniform.
The five grill-chefs donned surgical white while
tending to sizzling pieces of chicken meat on two
separate grills and all the seven waitresses were
beautifully clad in classical Khmer attire.
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Guests enjoy Grilled Chicken
with Papaya Salad at the Sharaton Hotel
Beer Garden.
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"This is
also a great place to sip beer, chat with friends and
enjoying people-watching", said Mr Dara happily.
"The Beer Garden has been serving Muan Ang and Bok
Lahong for a good many years but it has just become more
and more popular recently perhaps because the dishes have
only improved with time and experience and word of mouth
is bringing more customers here to enjoy the dish. Besides,
Sharaton Beer Garden is having a special promotion during
this period. We are offering a buy two get one free deal
when a customer orders beer to go with the Muan Ang. Usually
US$3 for a jug (four mugs), if a customer buys two jugs
for US$6, we offer a third jug free."
The Beer Garden processes and sells between 30 and 40
kilos of chicken daily from Mondays to Fridays and about
60 kilos of chicken on weekends. Besides grilled chicken
and papaya salad, the garden also serves Khmer, Thai,
Chinese and European cuisine upon request.
For guests who prefer to dine in air-conditioned comfort,
the restaurant has an upstairs facility that can host
about sixty guests comfortably. For those who prefer the
open, the picnic tables at the Beer Garden can easily
host about 100 guests. Should you drive, the hotel has
a car park with security guards to allow you to dine with
peace of mind. |
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Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
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