“Nothing Can Stop Us” on International Women’s Day

“We are Women. We are strong. We don’t give up when problems happen. We will always find a good solution for those problems.”

This is the powerful message for International Women’s Day from the Khéma team. We spoke to four of our hard-working chefs from our outlets at Khéma Pasteur, Khéma La Poste and Khéma Angkor, and while their background and experiences may differ, they are united in a belief that hard work and dedication to the task are the route to self-empowerment and the building of dreams.

Sreymoun Sun is the youngest of our ambassadors. At just 24 years of age, she has been with Khéma since 2017, when she joined the team at the freshly opened Khéma La Poste. This was a great move for a woman who has always loved cooking, and learned a great deal from her mother whose skills saw her much in demand for ceremonies and events in their native Banteay Meanchey. It was her determination that brought her to train at Enfants de Mekong, and her dedication that finally brought her to Khéma.

Working at Khéma Angkor means she is now closer to home and honing her skills as a prep cook with the busy team there. Sreymoun’s experiences have fuelled her ambition to learn ever more and she dreams of following a formal education in cooking so that she can one day set up her own restaurant. She urges everyone who dreams of becoming a chef to do their best to fight for that dream. “It will make you happy and your happiness will provide pleasure to all the guests and people around and it will be reflecting in the food you are creating,” she says.

With the help of her colleague Malis Ouk, Demi Chef de Partie at the Bakery section, she has created a special menu for International Women’s Day, and which you will find below, they have focussed on fresh, healthy flavours and beautiful presentation. We think it is infused with her lively spirit too, and are sure you will agree!

Originally from Kampong Chnang, 27-year-old Ratha In has worked her way up to become Demi Chef de Partie since she joined the team at Khéma Pasteur in 2014. She originally came to Phnom Penh to work in a factory, but it was thanks to a friend’s encouragement that she enrolled at the training school in Don Bosco and discovered something about which she could truly be passionate: cooking, and especially the highly technical art of baking. Originally daunted by the demands of the profession, Ratha has been able to really develop her skills to such a degree that she won a silver medal during a cookery competition last year, while she was pregnant with her first child.

Ratha believes in passion and following your heart, and encourages all women to try to find themselves through what they love. “Always Be strong,” she says, “If life fights us, fight it back. Nothing is impossible. We need to move on everything around. If you can find what you love, we will be a success one day”.

For International Women’s Day, Ratha has created a beautiful Strawberry Lover Cake, dotted with sweet pearls and gold leaf and crowned with an exquisite white chocolate lotus ($31.90+ for 800g).

With almost 23 years with the Thalias family, Sokny Va is a true veteran, and still only 47 years old. She has worked her way up to become Chef de Partie at Khéma La Poste, with responsibility for making sure all the starters and cold dishes are ready when you order them. Unlike many of her current peers, she started at Thalias (with Topaz) without any prior training as a cook, but worked her way steadily up the rankings thanks to her determination and dedication to her family. Sokny has an indomitable spirit, best expressed by her phrase “On behalf of the Women in the World, We can do everything, We never give up!” Easy to see that it is Sokny who coined the call to arms at the top of this story.

For International Women’s Day, she has crafted a delicious and refreshing seafood salad with Scallops, Prawns and Fresh Vegetables, for you to savour (and feel the power) for just $9++.