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VIEW PHOTOS
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Host: Sela

Siem Reap, Cambodia

USD
$36-$60 per person

Authentic Khmer cuisine in a local Cambodian home

Host offerings
  • House
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Sela

Sela has two passions - adventure treks off the beaten path, and cooking. He has been serving traditional Muskovy Duck Soup (the dish that gave the place its name) to the locals every evening at his restaurant, a local spot adjacent next to his family home in a neighborhood not far from downtown Siem Reap. His secret to cooking a scrumptious meal is using the freshest, highest quality ingredients, which are often organic and always local. Running his restaurant has not only helped him improve his cooking skills but also made him realize how much he enjoys meeting new people and sharing meals together. His loving family, including his wife, four children and business partner Michal, are often part of the experience that takes place outdoors in his restaurant, adjacent to his home.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-8 guests) Sela lives in a modest, rural house about 3km from the city center that hosts a restaurant and a beautiful garden with many herbs and vegetables that Sela grows himself. He has dogs, ducks, chickens and fish on the property, giving you a chance to be part of a truly local, authentic experience. After a brief introduction to Khmer cuisine, sit down with Sela and his family to eat a typically Cambodian meal that is not found in restaurants but it is what the locals eat at home. A few of the dishes that you may try are somlor kakor (smoked rice, mixed vegetables, pork and fish), fish salad with banana, prahok ktiss (spicy pork dip) and Cambodian beef jerky. This is a rural experience that might not be for every traveler; be prepared for farm animals to be present during your meal or cooking experience, and to experience a very authentic glimpse of local Cambodian life.

Cooking experience: (1-8 guests) You will join Sela and his wife in their outdoor restaurant to cook popular local Khmer dishes. The cooking class is set up outside next to the garden, making it very convenient to pick fresh herbs like mint and basil for your meal. This is a hands-on class - with the help of Sela you will make four Khmer dishes from scratch. Learn about Cambodian food, culture, agriculture and their way of life during your two-hour cooking class with Sela.

Market visit: (1-8 guests) After Sela picks you up from the hotel he will accompany you to the market, located a five-minute walk from his home. This is a local open market where Sela will show you various fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and meat. You will buy a few fresh ingredients needed for your cooking class, if booked, and even learn to bargain Cambodian-style!

Notes: Pick up and drop-off from your central Siem Reap hotel is included in the price of your booking. Transport will be either by tuk tuk or car depending on availability. Please write your hotel name and address when creating your booking. Sela also owns a travel company that specializes in local tours and activities - he is happy to give you tips and help plan your itinerary.

Please note that families with young children are welcome, but they may not fully participate in the cooking class for safety reasons.

Also please note that Sela's home and restaurant does not have a western style toilet, only an eastern style one.

Languages spoken: English

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Meeting Sela and his family is a very authentic Cambodian experience. Such as all people in this country, they are so nice and want to share their culture and daily life with honesty and simplicity. Sela is really open-minded and shared with us his vision for Cambodia and permaculture. The class is a real cooking experience: we learnt how to cook four traditional Cambodian meals with Sela and his wife’s help and advice. Going to the market before is also very interesting and immersive because we can see “real Cambodian life” and Sela also gave us a detailed explanation on the local food and made us taste some fresh fruits at the market. The lunch is also a very pleasant and convivial moment and you cannot leave Sela’s house without smiling and being happy to have met so kind people and share half of your day with them.

Vanessa, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
Outstanding experience. Great knowledge in the market and familiarity with many of the vendors. Awesome cooking experience, with a tour of the area. Fantastic. I would l recommend its to anyone.
- vtyum January 07, 2020
I did have such a great time. It just overcome totally my high expectations. I am so glad I took the course. For sure I will repeat.
- Juan October 17, 2017
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Sela

$36-$60 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $60 $45 $36
Alcohol
 $5 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $60 $45 $36
Alcohol
 $5 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 7:30am-12:30pm

Meet Sela

Sela has two passions - adventure treks off the beaten path, and cooking. He has been serving traditional Muskovy Duck Soup (the dish that gave the place its name) to the locals every evening at his restaurant, a local spot adjacent next to his family home in a neighborhood not far from downtown Siem Reap. His secret to cooking a scrumptious meal is using the freshest, highest quality ingredients, which are often organic and always local. Running his restaurant has not only helped him improve his cooking skills but also made him realize how much he enjoys meeting new people and sharing meals together. His loving family, including his wife, four children and business partner Michal, are often part of the experience that takes place outdoors in his restaurant, adjacent to his home.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (1-8 guests) Sela lives in a modest, rural house about 3km from the city center that hosts a restaurant and a beautiful garden with many herbs and vegetables that Sela grows himself. He has dogs, ducks, chickens and fish on the property, giving you a chance to be part of a truly local, authentic experience. After a brief introduction to Khmer cuisine, sit down with Sela and his family to eat a typically Cambodian meal that is not found in restaurants but it is what the locals eat at home. A few of the dishes that you may try are somlor kakor (smoked rice, mixed vegetables, pork and fish), fish salad with banana, prahok ktiss (spicy pork dip) and Cambodian beef jerky. This is a rural experience that might not be for every traveler; be prepared for farm animals to be present during your meal or cooking experience, and to experience a very authentic glimpse of local Cambodian life.

Cooking experience: (1-8 guests) You will join Sela and his wife in their outdoor restaurant to cook popular local Khmer dishes. The cooking class is set up outside next to the garden, making it very convenient to pick fresh herbs like mint and basil for your meal. This is a hands-on class - with the help of Sela you will make four Khmer dishes from scratch. Learn about Cambodian food, culture, agriculture and their way of life during your two-hour cooking class with Sela.

Market visit: (1-8 guests) After Sela picks you up from the hotel he will accompany you to the market, located a five-minute walk from his home. This is a local open market where Sela will show you various fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and meat. You will buy a few fresh ingredients needed for your cooking class, if booked, and even learn to bargain Cambodian-style!

Notes: Pick up and drop-off from your central Siem Reap hotel is included in the price of your booking. Transport will be either by tuk tuk or car depending on availability. Please write your hotel name and address when creating your booking. Sela also owns a travel company that specializes in local tours and activities - he is happy to give you tips and help plan your itinerary.

Please note that families with young children are welcome, but they may not fully participate in the cooking class for safety reasons.

Also please note that Sela's home and restaurant does not have a western style toilet, only an eastern style one.

Languages spoken: English

PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Meeting Sela and his family is a very authentic Cambodian experience. Such as all people in this country, they are so nice and want to share their culture and daily life with honesty and simplicity. Sela is really open-minded and shared with us his vision for Cambodia and permaculture. The class is a real cooking experience: we learnt how to cook four traditional Cambodian meals with Sela and his wife’s help and advice. Going to the market before is also very interesting and immersive because we can see “real Cambodian life” and Sela also gave us a detailed explanation on the local food and made us taste some fresh fruits at the market. The lunch is also a very pleasant and convivial moment and you cannot leave Sela’s house without smiling and being happy to have met so kind people and share half of your day with them.

Vanessa, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
Outstanding experience. Great knowledge in the market and familiarity with many of the vendors. Awesome cooking experience, with a tour of the area. Fantastic. I would l recommend its to anyone.
- vtyum January 07, 2020
I did have such a great time. It just overcome totally my high expectations. I am so glad I took the course. For sure I will repeat.
- Juan October 17, 2017
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $60 $45 $36
Alcohol
 $5 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 $60 $45 $36
Alcohol
 $5 per person
Transportation
 $0 per car
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 7:30am-12:30pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.