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Eating Out: Bopha Devi

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My friends and I were out yet again to try another international cuisine. This time it was Cambodian food from Bopha Devi in Melbourne's Docklands.

This place was listed in the cheap eats guide, but the actual venue was very glamorous, including this amazing chandelier.

I had no idea what to expect from Cambodian food. I imagined they would probably eat rice and noodles like most of Asia but I was unsure of the flavors to expect. Would they be spicy, salty or a bit of everything?

Dining with a mix of vegetarians and meatatarians (not sure if that's a proper word but I'm going to use it), we ordered a nice spread of food to try.
We started off with some appetizers:

Pumpkin filled parcels & Pork spare ribs

The pork spare ribs were twice cooked and coated in a caramelized palm sugar sauce that was heaven for the taste buds.
Presentation was nicely done with banana leaves, and the flavours were amazing. As this was only the starters we were hanging out for main course!
The pumpkin filled parcels got a rave review, even our friend Kiran who is allergic to won-ton skins, was hoeing into them, however her lips swelled up later that night and she looked like she was channeling Angelina Jolie.

The vegetarians had these colourful delights for mains:

Char Kroeung and Saramann

Char Kroeung:
wok cooked protein of your choice with lime leaves, lemongrass, turmeric, onions, bean shoots & capsicum. Served with fresh mint, cucumber, lettuce, vermicelli noodles, sweet fish sauce & crushed nuts

Saramann: your choice of protein cooked with coconut cream, onion, broccoli flowers, five spices, lemongrass, turmeric, lime leaves and crushed peanuts served with steamed rice.

I didn't get to sample these but I heard they were both fantastic. It's hard to find a restaurant that has a good selection for both vegetarian and meat eaters.

Grilled Marinated Chicken (top) and Bai Mouan (bottom)

The grilled marinated chicken was marinated in lemongrass, tumeric and lime leaves served with steamed rice and a mixed salad. Absolutely delicious, we were fighting over this one!

Bai Mouan is a classic Cambodian style chicken rice served with shredded lettuce, sliced cucumber and a lively garlic and lemon sauce. I really wanted to order this as it seemed like some kind of signature dish from Cambodia. Our friend Tristan who doesn't like too much garlic was not a fan of this dish, but I loved it (minus the cucumber, fact for the day, cucumber gives me gas!)

Lort Char

Lort Char is rice drop noodles, wok tossed with Asian broccoli, bean sprouts and egg.
It has a lovely smokey flavour to it. Wasn't too much a fan of the egg as it was more half cooked chunks of egg from what I can remember, but the rest was delicious.
My mum usually does rice drops with mince pork or beef and oyster sauce, so it was nice to experience them cooked in a different way.

Service here was top notch, the atmosphere was great and I would highly recommend this place to anyone!

Bopha Devi
27 Rakaia Way, Docklands VIC 3008
Phone: 9600 1887
Web: www.bophadevi.com




Bopha Devi on Urbanspoon

5 comments:

Oooooh, the food looks interesting and the venue looks gorgeous. I'll try to overcome my loathing for Docklands and head down there sometime! :0)

lol, yes I really like it there. I had no idea what I was ordering but it was all good. I think what makes it special is that it's not on the main strip, it's just off the main strip on a side street.

Mmm...Cambodian... how come I never thought about their cuisine? love vietnamese but never tried cambodian??? where have I been ?;) Thank's for sharing!

Zita, I love Vietnamese too, yet never considered with people in Cambodia eat! Why is that, I wonder?
x

Whattup peeps! Bopha Devi is da bomb! And Claire, what u talkin bout docklands for? I aint have no disrespectin young missy!

Reminds me of Kimmy Wilde

Well he was thailand based
She was an airforce wife
He used to fly weekends
It was the easy life
But then it turned around
And he began to change
She didnt wonder then
She didnt think it strange
But then he got a call
He had to leave that night
He couldnt say too much
But it would be alright
He didnt need to pack
Theyd meet the next night
He had a job to do
Flying to cambodia

And as the nights passed by
She tried to trace the past
The way he used to look
The way he used to laugh
I guess shell never know
What got inside his soul
She couldnt make it out
Just couldnt take it all
He had the saddest eyes
The girl had ever seen
He used to cry some nights
As though he lived a dream
Ans as she held him close
He used to search her face
As though she knew the truth
Lost inside cambodia

But then a call came through
They said hed soon be home
She had to pack a case
And they would make a rendez-vous
But now a year has passed
And not a single word
And all the love she knew
Has disappeared out in the haze
Cambodia - dont cry now - no tears now

And now the years have passed
With not a single word
But there is only one thing left
I know for sure
She wont see his face again

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