Battambang (បាត់ដំបង) Cambodia has a good vibe. This city in Northwestern Cambodia feels like an easy going and creative small town. It is 2.5 hours from Siem Reap, Cambodia where the Temples of Angkor Wat are located.
Activities travelers enjoy in Battambang (besides eating) are:
Enjoy a night at the circus Phare Ponleu Selpak;
Learning about Cambodian heritage and architecture on a specialized walking tour. (You can take a tuk tuk too if walking is not your thing);
Cooking and eating Cambodian delights at the city’s best cooking school;
Getting some fresh air in the countryside on a local livelihood bike tour;
Visiting this beautiful local gallery.
Vegan and vegetarian foods on offer
More and more travelers are seeking vegetarian and vegan meals for personal, moral and/or health reasons. Battambang has better and better vegetarian and vegan food available for locals and travelers alike.
Humanitarian and food photographer Regis Binard and I went on a vegetarian food tour of Battambang to photograph its best vegetarian/vegan food offerings.
Here are 7 vegetarian and/or vegan food delights in Battambang:
Kinyei Cafe: Vegan coffee and chocolate drinks and vegetarian muesli bowl. You can make it vegan by omitting the yogurt.
Ambrosia Cafe: vegan or vegetarian tacos with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, green pepper and green and purple cabbage topped with perfectly spiced black beans and a homemade tomato salsa.
Coconut LyLy Restaurant: Vegan or vegetarian Khmer fried vegetable rice. You can have it made with egg or omit it for a vegan meal. Either way, the fried rice has no MSG or fish sauce and is made with very little vegetable oil (so it is not greasy).
La Casa: Vegan or vegetarian thin crust pizza with homemade pizza dough, tomato sauce, carrot, thinly sliced potato, olives and green peppers.
Jaan Bai: Kampot black peppercorn tofu with peas and green onion, served with brown rice.
Eden Cafe: The best french fries in Cambodia.
Vegan Cambodian Rice Desserts: Mr. Boro Om’s dessert stall, next to the centrally located Psar Nat Market, offers vegetarian and vegan Cambodian desserts made from rice, condensed milk, coconut milk + cream, palm sugar and seasonal fruits.
Your turn: Do you choose to eat vegetarian/vegan food while traveling?
Vegan and plant-based recipes from around the world
For collections of plant-based dishes, inspired by my time living all around the world, look to The Jewish Food Hero Cookbook: 50 Plant-based Recipes For Your Holiday Meals
Feeding Women of the Bible, Feeding Ourselves features the narratives of 20 of our female biblical heroines, with plant-based dishes matched to their story. This is a community cookbook, featuring contributions from Jewish women all around the world.