Pairing Kuy Teav correctly — a note on palm wine

Most people overlook how much the right drink changes Kuy Teav. I ordered it with palm wine and the fresh with lemongrass elements of the dish sharpened considerably against the pairing. banana blossom in particular became more prominent in a good way.

Cambodian cuisine shares roots with Thai and Vietnamese cooking but has its own distinct identity shaped by Khmer culture. The a Phnom Penh riverside restaurant is where you learn these pairings — they evolved together. If you've been having Kuy Teav with the wrong drink, try it correctly once. It's a genuinely different experience. The restaurant deserves credit for getting this right.