Impression of the first Michelin-starred dinner at Topaz Phnom Penh

Hey, look who has just had a Michelin-starred dinner? 

Tonight having food cooked by Christian Peyre, a Michelin-star chef from #France and his team at #TopazCambodia. ♥️ Dry-fried scallops, lobster butter and citrus sauce, with quince and finger like caviar ? #wheninphnompenh #phnompenh #cambodia #Frenchfood #foodblogger #khmerblogger #foodreviewer

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 22, 2016 at 4:42am PST

I could have missed the invitation to experience my very first Michelin-starred dinner set to start at 6:30pm if not for going through my spam box in the late afternoon. So, as soon as I saw the invitation email from Thaliaz that runs Topaz Restaurant, I quickly gave a call to the marketing manager to reserve a seat for me. Who would not have accepted such a nice offer to have a taste of high-quality French cuisine, and especially meet a Michelin start chef?

Christian Peytre received the Michelin star status back in 1995. He has maintained it for some 20 years. It means everything to professionals working in the gastronomic industry. ? ⬇️Chef Gordon Ramsey cried when the Michelin stars status was removed from his New York restaurant. It’s like losing a girlfriend, he said.

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 24, 2016 at 7:56am PST

When socialites, the press, and bloggers met over a #michelin-starred dinner at #TopazRestaurant in #PhnomPenh #Cambodia, guess what we talked about non-stop! ?? #foodie #wheninphnompenh ?Topaz Restaurant

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 22, 2016 at 9:02am PST

Christian Peyre with some 40 years of experience in France travelled to Phnom Penh for a week to work along as well as share his experience with the Topaz kitchen team. Chef Peyre won the Michelin star back in 1995, having maintained it for some 20 years so far. For those of you who are foodies, like me, when a chef or a restaurant receives a Michelin star status, it really matters. A goddamn big deal.
The most memorable dishes I devoured that day include scallops with citrus caviar, squid with braised artichokes and Iberico ham, and pot-roasted wild partridge, not to mention 5 other unique items, which I hope my photos will do some justice to.

How cute! ? ⬇️ Canape: a delightful selection of bite-sized appetizers

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 24, 2016 at 7:52am PST

Just the right portion. ? Have you ever wondered why good food comes in a small amount like this? ? #topazrestaurantphnompenh #topazrestaurant #foodie #Cambodia #PhnomPenh

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 23, 2016 at 12:23am PST

Oh lala! ♥️ Noix De Saint Jacques: dry-fried scallops, lobster butter and citrus sauce, with quince and finger line caviar. Thank you #TopazCambodia for the invite to sample awesome #French dishes (a Michelin-starred dinner) by star chef Christian Peyre from #France!

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 22, 2016 at 4:50am PST

Never had a partridge before! This is #Perdreaux: pot-toasted wild partridge, foie gras terrine toasts, buttered green cabbage, white and black puddings #TopazCambodia #French #Frenchfood #cambodia #finedining

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 22, 2016 at 5:20am PST

A Michelin-starred dinner was really a Michelin-starred dinner. ? You seriously can’t expect less than what’s already been said. ⬇️ • Out of all the 8 items to devour, this sweet goodness has proved to my non-sweet-toothed self that this roasted pineapple on gingerbread with a 15-year-old Scotch whisky (bourbon) ice cream was a piece of paradise. If you guys have seen me eating, you might not easily see me eat sweet after dinner. But this one has raised the standard of what could tingle your taste buds! The sweet-sour flavor of the pineapple and the passion fruit seeds was making love when then I started to feed myself a spoon-ful of the Bourbon ice cream. The temperature was later reduced to a mild one when raisins and nuts were chewed together. All the flavors danced happily at the end of the meal, leaving nothing but a sheer satisfaction with this wonderful meal. Thank you @celine.shilin for this chance. 😉 I hope to have many more. ⬇️ • Just can’t wait to share the whole review of the dinner with everyone! ♥️ • • #wheninphnompenh #PhnomPenh #foodie #Cambodia #topazrestaurant #topazrestaurantphnompenh

A photo posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 22, 2016 at 9:25am PST

Video bonus 😉

Rocher: Granita with frigolet liqueur 😉

A video posted by Blue Lady Blog (@kounila) on Nov 22, 2016 at 5:52am PST

When the Michelin Guide which issues a Michelin star status to fine-dining restaurants around the world, stripped the stars from the New York-based restaurant of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey, he cried, saying losing the stars was like “losing a girlfriend”! However, I do not think anybody would feel sad for chef Gordon Ramsey.
Update: Michelin-starred dinner is available twice a year at Topaz Restaurant. Though now it is not available, there are Christmas and New Year menu available. Staff at Topaz remains at your disposal. 
Topaz Restaurant is located at #162, on Norodom Blvd, and opens from 11:00 – 14:00 and 17:30 – 22:30. The Michelin-star-standard, six-course dinner costs between $75 and $120 (with selected wine pairings).