Amansara (Cambodia)

Visit: June 15-17, 2012
Address: No 262, Krom 8, Phum Beong Don Pa, Khum Slar Kram Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia
Number: (855) 63 760 333
Website: http://www.amanresorts.com/amansara/home.aspx

So this summer, my whole dad's side of the family has decided to go to Cambodia for a little relaxing but culturally abundant vacation. As much as I've been enjoying all the beaches, it was actually quite a nice change to go visit temples and other historical sites. For the duration of the trip, we stayed in Amansara, a resort from the well regarded Aman group. For all of our dinners at Cambodia, we ate within the resort. And there's only one restaurant in there, so I'm sure you won't be wondering which restaurant it is.

For every meal, I've included the menu so you get a sense of what meals are like there. The chef changes the menu every single day, though you can certainly request what you'd like to have beforehand. Each day, there is always a Western option as well as a Khmer option.

Day 1
Menu

Menu: Day 1

Western entree - Lime Vichyssoise with Salmon Caviar

Lime Vichyssoise with Salmon Caviar

Western entree - Ricotta Ravioli with Bacon & Walnut

Ricotta Ravioli with Bacon & Walnut

Mmmmm, this was SO GOOD! There was enough ricotta inside the ravioli and the bacon plus walnut just added so much to the taste. Besides, the ravioli wasn't in overly heavy and creamy sauce.

Khmer - Somlor Tompeang: Fish soup with bamboo shoot & coconut cream

Somlor Tompeang: Fish soup with bamboo shoot & coconut cream

I'm not a huge fan of fish soup, but the watered down curry tasting soup was nice.

Western main - Seared Sea Bass with Sauteed Spinach, Red Wine Sauce

Seared Sea Bass with Sauteed Spinach, Red Wine Sauce

The seared sea bass was very enjoyable, though the salmon (as you will see later one), was still better.

Khmer - Larb Sach Moan: minced chicken salad, Curray Sach Kou: beef curry, Cha Trei Spei Teur: stir fried fish with pak choi & oyster sauce, Cha Katna: stir fried kailan leaves with garlic 

Clockwise from bottom left: Larb Sach Moan: minced chicken salad, Cha Katna: stir fried kailan leaves with garlic, Curray Sach Kou: beef curry, and Cha Trei Spei Teur: stir fried fish with pak choi & oyster sauce

My first night at Cambodia, i was dying to have some Cambodian food though I soon regretted my decision. While the Western options just seemed so mouth watering, the Khmer cuisine was quite...unexciting.

Western dessert - Vanilla Rice Pudding, Raspberry Sorbet

Vanilla Rice Pudding, Raspberry Sorbet

The vanilla rice pudding tasted very much like the Tapioca Custard I made a while back. The raspberry sorbet was neither too sweet nor too sour.

Day 2
Menu

Menu: Day 2

Western entree - Antipasti

antipasti 

I thoroughly enjoyed the antipasti. I loved how there were so many different kinds of appetizers for me to taste.


Western entree - Tuna Tartar with lemon, Chives & Greens

Tuna Tartar with lemon, Chives & Greens

The tuna tartar has just enough acidity to prevent the tuna from being too seafoody.

Western main - Poached John Dory with Pickled Fennel & Orange Emulsion

Poached John Dory with Pickled Fennel & Orange Emulsion

Poached dory was an excellent creative fish dish from Amansara.

Western main - Seared Lamb Rack with Ratatouille Couscous & Harisa

Seared Lamb Rack with Ratatouille Couscous & Harisa

Seared lamb was a very pleasant pink minus the disgusting lamb taste.

Western dessert - Coconut Panna Cotta

Coconut Panna Cotta, Mango Granite

I wasn't really expecting the panna cotta to be much... until I tried it. The mango granite seriously made the panna cotta come alive.

Day 3
Menu

Menu: Day 3

Western entree - Spicy Tomato Soup with Cucumber & Cream Cheese Crostini

Spicy Tomato Soup with Cucumber & Cream Cheese Crostini

I don't remember this being particularly spicy...


Western entree - Crab Salad with Avocado & Pickled Radish

Crab Salad with Avocado & Pickled Radish

The crab salad was delicious and the pickled radish arranged in a flower fashion below the salad was delightful.


Western main - Horseradish Crusted Salmon, Leeks & Bechamel

Horseradish Crusted Salmon, Leeks & Bechamel

Okay, this would be the salmon that I was referring to back from day 1. The salmon was definitely "crusted" and awesome. My sister wasn't planning on having dinner until she had a taste of my mom's salmon...then it all changed :D

Western main - Pancetta Wrapped Chicken Breast with Balsamic Lentil

Pancetta Wrapped Chicken Breast with Balsamic Lentil

I wanted to try chicken since the chef has done such a nice job with the rest of the meats, but the chicken was such a disappointment. It was simply too dry and the lentils were just very normal.

Western main (from day 1) - Poached Beef with Gnocchi & Mushroom

Poached Beef with Gnocchi and Mushroom

On the first day, my uncle was the only one who ordered the beef &gnocchi, and from then on, we all pretty much regretted it. Just by asking in advance to have the beef & gnocchi for the evening even though it wasn't on the menu, the chef happily agreed to make it for my dad.  The dish did not disappoint with its pink juicy center and cheesey gnocchi.

Western dessert- Tonka Bean Creme Brulee, Passionfruit Sorbet

Tonka Bean Creme Brulee, Passionfruit Sorbet

Although the creme brulee wasn't exactly creme brulee, I think that the taste and the sorbet definitely made up for it.

The caliber of food served at Amansara was very very surprisingly high. I honestly didn't expect much from a hotel/resort restaurant until I tasted the food. The first night, I thought that the chef lucked out, but I eventually realized that he couldn't have lucked out with his food so many nights and dishes in a row. Not only was the food awesome, but obviously, as Amansara promises, the service was superb.