Dining with a cause in Siem Reap

Siem Reap is fast cooking up repute as foodies hot pot, with fine numerous dining restaurants and street eats to match the tastiest in the region.

Amongst the very best of these eateries are a growing number of “kitchens with a cause” – restaurants and cafes that are set up to help train, educate and benefit disadvantaged Khmer youngsters and empower women.

Here are three of the very best places in town where helping really does taste great too.

Haven

One of the most inspiring training restaurants in town is Haven. The restaurant is unusual in that it has no direct links to religious groups or other NGO’s, and is virtually self sustaining financially.

Disadvantaged young adults are given the chance to learn the hospitality trade from the kitchen through to the tables, and as well as the training they also receive fully supported accommodation, healthcare and a salary.

Haven also regularly ranks as the best restaurant in Siem Reap, so reservations are essential.

Check out www.havencambodia.com

Marum

Set in an imposing old teak house Marum is run my a small local NGO who has been helping street children for many years, Marum is run as part of the Tree Alliance, a group that helps NGO’s to establish and manage training and standards for social projects around the world.

Its young team serve up great and imaginative local Khmer dishes.

Check out www.tree-alliance.org

Blossom Café

Cake art is what this place is all about, and especially cup cakes. This is a virtual cup cake art gallery, where some of the finest and prettiest sweet treats you’ll ever see can be admired, and of course eaten.

Fair trade coffee and other delicacies are all served up, and every bite and sip you take goes towards helping empower Khmer women.

Check out www.blossomcakes.org