Indian cultural sway has traditionally been strong in Cambodia, not least the Hindu cosmology and myths that fed into the design of the temples at Angkor.
Next month, the influence of the subcontinent — this time its heady gastronomic traditions — will once again be to the fore in Cambodia as Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh gears up for a special week-long celebration of Indian cuisine curated by one of India’s leading chefs.
The multi-day appreciation, which runs from August 8 to 14, will coincide with “India Week” in Cambodia. The program features a host of culinary events and specials at the luxury hotel. Highlights of the week include a special launch event, a gala Indian Sunday brunch, and Indian inspired dinners, business lunch menus, and breakfast items.
Overseeing this celebration of subcontinental manna will be chef Jhupa Singh, a master of Indian cuisine who plies his culinary trade at the award-winning SOMA fine dining Indian outlet at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai.
Singh, who hails from Uttar Pradesh in North India, specializes in Northern Indian cuisine. But he is looking forward to giving guests at Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh an all-encompassing culinary journey during the week-long celebration.
“We’ll give guests an overview of Indian food culture,” said Singh. “From light, vegetarian breakfast items that originate in the south of the country to rich curries and aromatic kebabs from Northern India, we plan to make the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh the hub for a true Indian culinary odyssey.”
Cambodia’s capital has long had a strong Indian food game. Since ancient times there have been various exchanges between India and Cambodia. Indian communities are long established in the nation.
As a result, it’s never been difficult to fill up on Indian cuisine in Phnom Penh. From ramshackle shophouses to opulent dining rooms straight from the set of a big Bollywood production, the city is not short on curry-laden tables.
Even so, it is rare to find such a comprehensive celebration of Indian cuisine in Cambodia. Guests will be able to sample the spicy spreads at Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh’s Market Café Restaurant & Lounge.
“It’s an honour for us to welcome Chef Singh to Cambodia,” said Herman Kemp, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh. “We are sure that guests will appreciate the amazing diversity of Indian cuisine over the course of the week.”
