Ratanak Kitchen Cooking Class

You can’t fully understand a culture until you grasp the intricacies of its cuisine. Learning more about the history of Cambodia and the tumultuous past of the Khmer Empire is not just about visiting museums and temples. It’s about experiencing the Khmer way of life. And that starts with the local food. Traditional Cambodian cuisine is functional and delicious, based on a blend of contrasts: contrasting aromas, textures, temperatures, and tastes work together to create an innovative, savory dining experience.

Following the slogan “Eat fesh organic product for healthy life!”, Chef Ratanak is one of the most dedicated chefs in Cambodia, with a deeply-ingrained passion for the traditional Khmer cuisine inherited from his mother. He knows all the secrets of this cuisine and is willing to share them all with his students, during the three and a half hours of the Ratanak Kitchen Cooking Class.

You’ll learn a different way of cooking by going through all the stages of meal preparation. You’ll be conveniently picked up from your Siem Reap hotel in the morning before the class. Afterward, Chef Ratanak will accompany you to the Old Market, situated in the central market area, where you can experience and explore the local ingredients.

You’ll be able to see, touch, smell, and bargain for all the food you will buy, from fresh vegetables to exotic foods, succulent meats, and the aromatic Asian spices.

Chef Ratanak is an easy-going teacher who enjoys good humor and has fun during his market expeditions. You’ll learn all the tricks of choosing top ingredients for preparing your meals, which you’ll prepare in a relaxed environment, under the expert guidance of Chef Ratanak.

If you’re not a morning person, there is also the option of an afternoon cooking class, which offers the same fun experience of preparing four authentic Khmer dishes. At the end of the lesson, you and your fellow students will enjoy the meals you’ve created in the restaurant’s friendly atmosphere, along with your choice of soft drinks. With a full stomach and a full heart, you’ll then be dropped off back at your hotel to enjoy the rest of your evening.