Thida and Nick in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thida and Nick in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

We are Thida, Stephanie, and Nick, and thank you for checking out our food blog — we’re thrilled to have you here!

Thida is the brains behind the operation. Thida has learned Cambodia’s deepest-held gastronomic secrets from her relatives while growing up in the lush, green, mystical countryside. After moving to the city of Kampot, Thida has worked as a server in a European restaurant, where she honed her cooking talents and quickly rose through the ranks to become the kitchen manager. It’s at this restaurant in Kampot that Thida met Nick — a Canadian traveler, corporate absconder, passionate writer, and glutton for Southeast Asia’s culinary delights. Thida and Nick lived together in Kampot for several years, and eventually got married in 2019. During their stay in Southeast Asia, Thida and Nick traveled throughout the region extensively and explored the culinary traditions in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and their home base, Cambodia.

Thida, Nick, and Stephanie
Thida, Nick, and their daughter, Stephanie

In 2020, Nick and Thida moved to Canada, where they welcomed their baby daughter, Stephanie. After arriving in Canada, Thida noticed a void in the eclectic selection of ethnic cuisines that prevail in Canada’s major cities. This void, of course, was Khmer food. Lacking the acclaim of Vietnamese cooking or the scorching-hot appeal of Thai dishes, Cambodian cuisine is, indeed, deeply underrepresented in Canada and the US. So, after some coercing from Nick, Thida has agreed to fill the gap by dedicating a blog to her favorite Cambodian recipes. Since Thida’s culinary horizons have greatly expanded over the years, she’s also happy to present her renditions of various dishes from other cuisines. Meanwhile, Nick is hard at work editing and publishing Thida’s recipes, all while learning the magic of food photography on the go. And, as the taster and food-stealer-in-chief, Stephanie probably enjoys the most rewarding role in the enterprise.

 

Author

  • Thida Koeut

    Thida Koeut, born near Kampot, Cambodia, is the chef and author behind Thida's Kitchen. Immersed in Cambodian gastronomy from childhood, she later managed a renowned Danish-French fusion restaurant in Kampot, mastering European culinary techniques. Her hands-on farming experience deepened her connection to authentic Cambodian ingredients. Now based in New Westminster, British Columbia, Thida seamlessly blends her rich heritage with global flavors, presenting them to the world through her online publication.

    View all posts