Eat: 2 for 1 Tuesdays at Pizza World

I have a guilty secret... I love chain-store pizza.  You know, the pizza most people say isn't "real" pizza, the one with a thick doughy base, loads of melted cheese, and things that wouldn't be caught dead on a "real" Italian pizza, the ones that sometimes have melted cheese inside the crust (mmmm).  I'm not proud of it, but it's true.

Don't get me wrong.  I love "real" wood-fired Italian pizza too (the sort you can get here and here), and I wouldn't dream of comparing the two.  But every so often I get a craving for the fast food style deep dish pizza.  The only problem is, while in Australia that type of pizza is about the cheapest dinner you can get to feed a crowd, in Cambodia they are (comparatively) expensive and if you want it delivered it's even worse.

That is, until Tuesdays.  On Tuesdays I can get my fix of cheesy deep dish goodness, because Pizza World has 2 for 1!  That is precisely the reason why last week we trekked over to Sovanna in the pouring rain.  To have one (actually two) of these bad boys:

We had the Hawaiian, good sizes chunks of meaty bacon and loads of pineapple and cheese.

I recommend sitting near the salad bar so you can witness first hand the impressive Khmer salad bar technique.  

Honestly, it's almost an art form and enables you to get enough salad to feed a large family into a small side salad bowl.  The ultimate in salad-bar value.   For the uninitiated, here's how it's done:

Alternatively, you could just stand at the salad bar looking a little pathetic and one of the staff will probably come and help you.

Either way it makes for interesting viewing over dinner.

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Eat: Ebony Tree & Coffee Republic

I've been trying out a few more places in my (work) neighbourhood.  I regularly pass the Ebony Tree, and finally decided to give it a go.

I was the only person there and it was quite clear that my presence meant that the kitchen staff could no longer sit in the shady garden chatting to each other.  But, to be fair, the garden is lovely, so who could really blame them.

A moment after I sat down a fan and a mosquito coil were placed at my table to ensure I'd be completely comfortable. 

I ordered a Chicken and Pomelo salad.  I love Pomelo and it really made this salad.  The chicken was warm and the salad was fresh, tasty and filling.

In addition to the cafe there is a, small, boutique at the back of the cafe which I had a quick peek into before I left.

Rather than getting my coffee here, I decided to duck next door to the Coffee Republic.  Situated at the back of Skyline Hotel and Apartments, this place claims to be the best coffee house in Cambodia.  A claim that I felt compelled to test.

There is a wide range of coffees available.  My coffee was pretty good, although I don't know whether it's the best in Phnom Penh.  That being said sitting by the pool was very relaxing.  The cafe has a limited breakfast and lunch menu, as well as some pastries and muffins available too.

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Eat: Bagels at the Vego Salad Bar

Okay, so this is the last installment of my vegetarian week. The Vego Salad Bar.

This funky little bar is not technically speaking vegetarian, but veggies do feature very prominently on the menu. Your basic choices are salads, wraps or bagels.

I got an “Australia” Bagel. I'm not exactly sure why it got that name, but it was one of the best bagels I've had in PP, stuffed full of roasted veggies and goats cheese. So good.

Starting from $3.75 you can design your own salad or wrap. Full of fresh yummy ingredients.  This place is probably my favourite find from my vego week.  

I might have also picked up a Blueberry bagel for breakfast the following day...

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Eat: Salad at The Sugar Palm on Street 240

Today I was looking for a quick light lunch, so I stopped in at The Sugar Palm, a Khmer restaurant on Street 240 for a salad.   

The Sugar Palm has been recommended to me so many times.  Its not the cheapest Cambodian restaurant, but the food is very tasty.  I love the decor, it's got a really nice feel.

It was also very quiet at 1pm on a Wednesday.

As I said, I was looking for a light lunch so I grabbed a Chicken and Banana Blossom salad.  This would have to be one of my favourite Cambodian dishes and perfect for lunch.  Cambodian salads are always filling, while at the same time light and fresh, with just the right amount of meat to keep you going through the afternoon.  Plus the dressing is always lovely and light with lime juice and just a hint of chilli (nothing like the oily dressings you get on western style salads).

My Chicken & Banana Blossom salad was very tasty.  It's described as a starter on the menu but it was definitely enough for lunch.

The other great thing about Sugar Palm is they don't use MSG.

Who would have thought this would taste so good?

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