Cooking School on Channel News Asia

The Cambodia Cooking Class was selected by Channel News Asia to be featured on their culinary tv show 'Taste Matters'.

Our chef Heng already had some taste of being a tv star as he was filmed before by BBC's top chef Rick Stein. That tv series on South East Asian cuisine will be broadcast in Autumn 2009. Channel News Asia has a shorter production time: Heng starred on the tv show on July 11th 2008.

No nerves

Heng is not the kind of person that gets nervous being filmed for television. On the contrary, he is quite confident and not at all impressed by cameramen, a sound engineer or a celebrated tv-presenter. Probably he is a tv producer's dream as he is just his natural self.

Just like he is when you would meet him during a cooking course: relaxed, humurous and very capable of teaching you the fine art of Khmer cuisine. Whether there is a camera running or there are 10 participants in his cookery class, Heng is just Heng.

Fish Amok

The producer of CNA's tv show 'Taste Matters' was especially interested in the national Cambodian dish, Fish Amok, so that was what Heng was preparing.

Of course, things don't always go the way you want, especially with a running camera. The good part is, it was not live television, so things could be done over and over again.

E.g. the bowl of coconut milk twice fell to the ground. That never happens during a cooking class, but when filming... Probably Murphy's Law!

Beautiful Flavours

Heng and 'Taste Matters' showhost Marc had a fun time together. They happily chatted away on Cambodian cuisine in general and Fish Amok in particular.

After the dish was prepared of course Marc had to taste it and he was stunned by the beautiful flavours. Not only Marc, but the whole crew thought Fish Amok was a really delightful dish!

The programme 'Taste Matters' featuring Khmer cuisine was broadcast by Channel News Asia on July 11th 2008.

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