The Siem Reap Food Situation

*Published on **2018-03-04** by **Kelley** | Categories: Travel*

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[Https://www.annexesiemreap.com/home-french-restaurant-siemreap](Https://www.annexesiemreap.com/home-french-restaurant-siemreap)

Being a bit of an older traveler, (Shhhhhh, I’m only in my 30’s) I tend to steer away from the crowds a little bit. I do enjoy going to the college aged party areas and musing around a bit. Every once in a while I’ll rock the party too. I LOVE watching people when they think they’re not being watched. Seeing them enjoy themselves, laughing up a storm, deep in thought or conversation with an occasional argument bursting out is one of the best pastimes I have. A group of giggling girls holding up a grasshopper and taking a selfie. A mom and a daughter lined up for ice cream holding hands. Learning to sort the tourists from the locals and the wonder of how we’ve all ended up at the same spot in life. Even if just for a second, brushing by one another on the streets in search of food, traveling has shocked me simultaneously by how big and small this world is. The streets of Siem Reap were a perfect place for all of the above. I spent a lot of my first few days wandering around just looking, sizing up the place. The night markets were fun though the people selling things were a little pushy. The vibe from the people in the hostels was inviting and full of camaraderie. But what I loved the most about this place was the access to amazing food.

The place that broke me in I would find myself coming back three other times before I left. The cost was not at all high by my usual standards but I was dropping $20 a visit here. You’re saying, “Kelley, calm down.” I know. But with my budget being $15 a day, it wasn’t helping my wallet. I was spending over a day’s worth of money on one meal. What I can tell you, is that it was worth it. Meet L’Annexe:

What really stole my heart was the beauty of the place, from inside out and top to bottom. It was bewitching and elegant long before I stepped inside. The door sealed it for me. I knew I would stay before I even walked inside.

It felt like a little adventure just walking in. I felt my heart beat faster.

After finding the bar and the waitress, I was welcomed and told to chose any table I’d like. That happens to be one of my favorite things to do. A good lookout spot is important. Each place has it’s own allure. This one in the corner felt safe and relaxed. But a corner is not where you get to see things.

The next felt like it was in the middle of the jungle. I’ll have to confess that one of my favorite things about L’Annexe was that it was shrouded in green.

Like a favorite dress that you bring out of the back of your closet because you know jaws drop when you put it on, this spot wore her finery well.

The one that I settled on gave me the best view in the house. There was also seating inside but I was no mood to be hidden from the sun. All was quiet save one other man because it was still too early for normal people to be eating their dinner.

Look at this beautiful jungle!! I chose my seat and within seconds a beautiful woman stood by my side offering a menu. I will not bore you with the entire book but let me just say, there is a ton of magnificent food to chose from. I actually had a hard time making a decision. It took me talking to the owner to decide. (More on her later.) The food that we decided on ended up being an incredible experience indeed. As a traveler you don’t often get food that’s good for you. She started me off with a salad. This picture does NOT do it justice. This may have been one of the most flavorful salads I have ever had. My favorite were the black olives giving little pops of piquancy against the crisp and cool veggies.

Look at this thing!! Just ask for the Greek Salad. It’s so flavorful. I got it each time I went to eat here.

The next step was a dish suggested by the gorgeous owner. A beautiful woman with a baby on the way, I spoke with her for about half an hour. Her vibrance was refreshing. She just pulled up a chair as I lazed through my meal. She owns the place and her husband, Aziz, is the chef. He calls her his “forever accomplice”. Their story grew my heart as I listened. This is what life is supposed to be about. They were pregnant with their first child. Their passion for food and the want for excellence in serving their own was crystal clear. She told me that the quality of the ingredients weren’t up to par so she took to ordering some things she really needed from afar. Ordering it from a world away, they would place it on a table in front of some unsuspecting customer to blow their world apart. Their chocolate came from Honduras. The wine that I had was from Alsace, the city that the couple was from in France. But the others were from Australia, Spain, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and of course from all over France. The cheese? The Camembert is from Normandie, the Tomme de Savoie is from Savoie, the goat cheese from Poitou Charentes. I went to more places than I had been in my entire life just by sitting down to eat at this restaurant. On top of it all their staff shared the same want for excellence as the owners. They were attentive and kind the whole night. It doesn’t hurt working for someone who cares about you. It really shows up to the customer.

(Picture from Rika)

All of that adds up to one of the most surprising food experiences in my travels. Who knew such a tremendous French restaurant would pop up in the middle of Siem Reap? All just from walking down the street from my hostel and turning right.

My main course Rika (the owner) suggested the Tart. Forgetting my butt was planted in a French restaurant I thought, “Hmmmm, dessert for dinner?” Then she explained the difference between a tart that I’m used to and a French tart. It’s more like a thin French pizza. The real name: Flammekueche. I settled on the Classic Tart. With cottage cheese, cream, onion and smoked bacon, it sounded delicious. It did not disappoint.

The crust was beautifully thin. It almost struggled to hold the toppings. But hold it did. Being thin in comparison to the melting flavors on top, a perfect blend of taste came through without being too heavy. I may or may not have eaten the whole thing myself with no remorse.

Then the real magic happened. I’m not kidding. Everything that was put in front of me tasted remarkable. But then dessert came and blew everything out of the water. Rika’s husband Aziz, as I mentioned, is the chef. And a good one at that. But his true talent shows through with desserts. He was, after all, trained by a champion pasty chef in France. Without hesitation Rika suggested the Chocolate Pie though she had so many to chose from. There is pear in vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce and whipped cream, there’s vodka with lemon ice cream, you can have tiramisu, creme brûlée or peaches with vanilla ice cream and berry coulee. I could die just in the dessert section. But of all these, she brought me this.

I kid you not my breath caught in my throat. THIS, my friends, is why I’m terrified to visit France. I know for a fact you would have to pry the food away from me as tears stream down my face just to get me back on the plane. When they popped this thing in front of me I knew I was coming back. At just $6 my world was opened up. Tears filled my eyes. This is not sarcasm here. The chocolate was so good I actually ate slowly. As someone who struggles to eat as if someone is not about snatch my food off my plate, it was a gift.

This whole place was a gift. The food, the atmosphere, the staff, the owners and the beautiful story of their life. From the moment I walked in, this place just felt different. Even as I write this post years later, Rika and I are emailing back and forth to be sure that the details are correct. From a world away this woman gets a reminder of an old meeting and is still willing to help. After writing this post, my thoughts are beginning to run away with me. Would I really fly back to Siem Reap for a weekend just to eat a few meals here? The answer is yes. Unsurprisingly, I’m toying wth the idea of doing so right now.

(Their son, Elyas, with some of the staff today, from Rika)

For a much more intense comprehensive introduction to their dessert menu and philosophy, including lots of pictures, check out their website. You will not be wasting your time. =)

[https://www.annexesiemreap.com/home-french-restaurant-siemreap](https://www.annexesiemreap.com/home-french-restaurant-siemreap)

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Comments

**kelleyro82@gmail.com** (Fri, 09 Mar 2018 05:51:13 +0000):

I’m so happy you liked my article. I really love sharing things with people how I see them so they don’t have to go themselves. I just told people what I saw and tasted. Feel free to spread the link around!! I really am looking at going for an overnight trip in the next few months and I might just come to Cambodia. It holds warm memories for me. And I would die to eat at your restaurant again. Hopefully, I’ll see you all soon.

K

**kelleyro82@gmail.com** (Fri, 09 Mar 2018 05:44:20 +0000):

In English:

Hello Kelley,

What praise! What to answer apart from “Thank you”?

We read about your article with a lot of fun and emotions.

A simple “thank you” seems very pale in view of the beautiful article that you offer us there!

We remember perfectly you and the enthusiasm that you had expressed, already on the moment.

We are really flattered by all these charming remarks. But, above all, we find our satisfaction in the fact that you had a good day in our establishment, and on the terrace moreover!

And if the quality of the welcome, the food-wine pairings and the fine tart chocolate tasted met your expectations, we are more than happy!

We are pleased that you have been sensitive and we express our gratitude to you here. Looking forward to welcoming you again.

The Chef de Cuisine – The Annexe french restaurant in Siem Reap.

**Aziz** (Thu, 08 Mar 2018 13:16:04 +0000):

Bonjour kelley,

Que d’éloges! Que répondre à part “Merci”?

Nous prenons connaissance de votre article avec beaucoup de plaisir et d’émotions.

Un simple “Merci” paraît bien pâle au vue du bel article que vous nous offrez là!

Nous nous souvenons parfaitement de vous et de l’enthousiasme que vous aviez formulé, déjà sur le moment.

Nous sommes vraiment flattés par toutes ces charmantes remarques. Mais, par-dessus tout, nous trouvons notre satisfaction dans le fait de constater que vous avez passé une bonne journée dans notre établissement, et en terrasse qui plus est!

Et si la qualité de l’accueil, les accords mets-vins et la Tarte fine au chocolat dégustés ont su combler vos attentes, nous en sommes plus que ravis!

Nous sommes heureux que vous y ayez été sensible et nous vous exprimons ici toute notre reconnaissance. Au plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau.

Le Chef de Cuisine – L’Annexe french restaurant à Siem Reap.

Website: [https://www.annexesiemreap.com](https://www.annexesiemreap.com)