AsiaLIFE

The Pantry Shop, River 108, La Clef de Sol, Café Symphonies ... find out what's new in town.

Deli-scious
Run by importers, AusKhmer the Food Pantry opened late May next to the company’s warehouse on Street 105. The small deli features a variety of many modestly priced wines (from US$4/bottle), as well as several, mainly Australian beers, and even Strongbow cider (US$2/bottle). As for food, shelves full of less commonly found French delicacies are ready to tempt you. Frozen meats and fish are also available. Try the Malai crocodile meat (US$1.70/100g) if you dare, or go more mainstream with an Australian T-Bone steak (US$1.95/100g). Further there are cheeses, antipasti, and cold cuts, as well as a selection of sweets, teas, olive oils and other neatly packaged products. If the location is too awkward, ask for a menu and order home delivery. The shop/warehouse is usually able to accommodate your order the following day at the latest. This is just the place to find that little something you can’t get in Lucky or Pencil.
The Pantry Shop, 125 Street 105. Open 10am – 6.30pm, for deliveries call 023 993 859 between 8am-5pm.  

A Hotel With a View
Just as everyone is complaining about lack of tourists, what should open but a boutique hotel? Owner Tom O’Connor knows a thing or two, as he set up both the FCC Siem Reap and Metro Café on the riverside. This bijou hotel has only 12 rooms, six of them with river views. Bedecked in silver and unashamedly art deco is clearly aimed at the flashpacker set. The rooms are extremely comfortable with flat screen TV and separate bathroom and toilet. The efficient (for Cambodia) WiFi, good working space and spacious rooms make this a perfect business option. If available opt for one of the front rooms, where the large balconies afford great riverside views. Tom also plans to open a “fish café” on the corner of the street with Sisowath Quay towards the end of the month.
River 108, 2 Street 108, Tel: 023 218 785, www.river108.com   

La Clef de Sol
This small, boutique shop on the opposite corner of Streets 51 and 108 to La Marmite Restaurant opened recently. It has a good range of household goods and home decorations, including table-cloths, bed linen, curtains and bags. They also do made-to-order goods.
La Clef de Sol, 75E Street 108, Tel: 017 430 595. Open Monday-Saturday 10am to 7pm.

Fresh Roasted Coffee
There’s a new aroma on the riverside these days. Just after Green Vespa, Café Symphonies serves six types of coffee roasted fresh on the premises. Although mainly geared towards the hotel and restaurant sector in Cambodia, customers have a choice of espresso and latte (both US$1 for regular and US$1.50 for large). The French management have extensive experience of the coffee business, running six coffee houses in Paris as well as some in Thailand. Worth the visit if only for the inhalation.
Café Symphonies, 81 Sisowath Quay, Open 8am to 5pm.