Foreign Correspondents Club of Cambodia!

You can't leave Phnom Penh without visiting the tourists' most loved spot by the riverfront -- Foreign Correspondents Club of Cambodia (FCC).   It is a 4-level boutique hotel located at 363 Sisowath Quay.  Their restaurant & bar serve great food and drinks!

On the 1st floor, you will find FCC's Cafe Fresco.  They serve the best cappuccino and latte! Price range is ~US$ 2 -5.  This is a good choice for breakfast or if you want to unwind after a long night. 

The 2nd floor houses the hotel rooms and photo exhibits.  The restaurant is on the 3rd floor.  If you want to have the best casual and open-aired dining experience then this is the perfect place! They serve fusion cuisine -- traditional Khmer flavors with French influences.  The food is relatively pricey compared to other restaurants in the area.  One dish is about ~ US$ 7-10.  What you are paying for is the great atmosphere and view! Best place to be at sunset!

Great view of the Mekong River!

The Bar is at the hotel's roof terrace.  It houses various events and live music! The bar offers several mixtures of drinks but if it is your first time in Cambodia, you might want to try their most famous local beer too!

Angkor beer:

Cambodia's most famous local beer

This blog makes me want to escape the busy life more.

Jana

Frizz Khmer Cuisine!

We were in search of a restaurant that serves the best FISH AMOK (Foreigners' most loved Khmer dish) in town!  After hearing praises from both foreigners and locals, we eventually decided to dine at Frizz Cambodian Cuisine.  From the riverfront, we rode a Tuk Tuk going to #67 Street 240, Phnom Penh.  The ride costs US$ 1.

Tuk Tuk!

After about  a 10-minute ride, we finally reached the place.  It is located in a very quiet street along with other appealing restaurants.  This is the best resto choice if you want to escape the bother and clamour by the riverfront. 

Needless to say, we ordered the Khmer favourite Fish Amok! It tastes like Philippines' laing. 

Fish Amok:

Steamed coconut fish with turmeric sauces and spices served in banana leaves (US$ 5)

We also ordered Lok Lak. Great serving at a valued cost!

Lok Lak:

Prime beef chunks served in Khmer gravy topped with a fried egg (US$ 5)

Below are other Frizz Specialties.  Check them out!

 

Have you tried a Frog Amok? 

I want to try it when I get back to Cambodia!

Jana

Eat like a millionaire in the buzzing metropolis of Vietnam!

If you're planning a visit to Ho Chi Minh, you can't leave the city without doing a round of food trip!

Best breakfast

Try your hotel's breakfast buffet.  They'll definitely offer variety of choices: Vietnamese, Western, Japanese, Chinese.   Instant good food! Vietnamese brewed coffee is a good try to complete your breakfast!

breakfast buffet from our hotel

Best Lunch

Okay here we go! After taking a stroll to the city's cathedral and post office, you can walk straight to Nha Hang Ngon (160 Pasteur Street) for lunch. Everyone who visits HCM city stops in this place. They offer the best Vietnamese Noodles and Vermicelli soups!

MUST TRY: Bun Thit Nuong ( Vermicelli and Grilled Pork served with Fresh Herbs)

-- 45,000 VND

Bun Thang (Vermicelli in Soup with Pork and Pork Sausage)

-- 38,000 VND 

Drinks are priced at around 25,000 - 35,000 VND.

Best Dinner

I've been hearing a lot about this French colonial house turned restaurant even before I went to HCM City.  Cuc Gach Quan is the best place for a cosy dinner!  From the city center, you can take a cab to 10 Dang Tat Street.  Cab fare is about 55,000 VND.  The place is quite far but surely worth the effort!  Very peaceful & quiet atmosphere plus the cooking is remarkable!

Vietnamese Chicken in Salad -- 80,000 VND

 Beef Stewed with Lemongrass and Chili -- 80,000 VND

 

Best Dessert

If you're an ice cream fan, you really have to visit Fanny Ice Cream.  Best place to go after dinner.  Ice cream is served in a creative and appealing way! It is worth its price! No artificial ingredients, 100% natural ice cream.  They already have 4 stores in HCM City but we visited the newest small-nice-cosy branch (22 Pham Hong Thai Street) near Ben Thanh Market.

 

 

 Strawberry, Chocolate and Macadamia Vanilla Ice cream -- ~80,000 VND

Best Coffee 

Ca phe sua da (Iced coffee with condensed milk) is a must try!  This is the most popular drink not only for foreigners but for locals as well.  To buy this drink, you can either visit the coffee shops or just go by the streets! It is everywhere in the city.  

 Ca phe sua da at Highlands Coffee -- 28,000 VND

Ca phe sua da at Ben Thanh Market Streets -- 15,000 VND

Now I'm having my third cup of coffee.  I miss Saigon.  

Jana

Emerald Lodge: Further down the Road!

Emerald Lodge, The Jewel Box is located at Mount Faber -- the Southern tip of Singapore.  To get here, you can take a cab or public bus 409 (only on weekends) or cable car from Harbourfront Centre.

Before heading at the open deck for the 8pm snow show, we first had dinner at Emerald Lodge and enjoyed the extremely beautiful sunset from the hilltop!

 further down the road

 We ordered Caesar Salad ($S12.90), Carbonara Pasta (S$14.90), and Vanilla Ice Cream (S$3.90)

Big Serving of Ice Cream!

The prices at Emerald lodge are relatively cheaper compared to other dining restaurants at The Jewel Box but the food choices are better! I will definitely come back here on my next Singapore visit!

Jana

A taste of the original Taiwan: Lai Lai Casual Dining

We went to NEX (the newest shopping mall in Singapore) for lunch!  Among the different eateries at the basement, we decided to give Lai Lai Casual Dining a try because they serve bubble milk tea!

We ordered Braised Pork Rice Set (S$13.90). The set meal comes with your choice of 1 side dish and bubble tea! 

We also got Three Cups Chicken with Beans (S$6.90). Tastes like Adobo (famous cuisine from the Philippines!).

I recommend you get Pepper & Salt Fried Chicken as side dish! It's the best! Taiwan's most popular street snack!

Quite pricey but definitely gives a taste of the original Taiwan!

Jana

What is there to do in Phnom Penh?

For me it was eat Western food and go shopping! 

After dropping off our things at the hotel, we headed right away in the Riverfront to have dinner.  Most restaurants in the stretch cater Western Cuisine. Since we wanted instant reliable food, we chose The Pizza Company!  (This restaurant is originally from Bangkok.  They used to have a branch at Market! Market!, Taguig) Apparently, this is the most preferred pizza parlour in PP! You have to queue before you can get a sit!

We ordered Meat Deluxe Pizza, Spaghetti Spicy Sausage, and Iced blended Coffee. Prices are reasonable! The predominantly used currency in Cambodia, by the way, is US Dollars.

Meat Deluxe ($5.90)

Spaghetti Spicy Sausage ($3.30)

 Iced Blended Coffee ($2.20)

We dined al fresco. Great riverfront view! I suggest you do the same when you visit Pizza Company in PP! 

Jana