Episode Description

In the latest episode of the Death in Cambodia, Life in America Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Chef Ros Rotanak (better known as Chef Nak) Cambodia’s leading culinary ambassador and the author of the award-winning cookbook SAOI. From her earliest memories of cooking out of necessity to her rise as a global advocate for Khmer food, Chef Nak’s journey is one of resilience, purpose, and passion.

In this interview, she opens up about the emotional weight of her achievements, the delicate balance between honoring tradition and modernizing presentation, and how cooking became a way to reclaim and share Cambodian identity after the Khmer Rouge. This episode is a reminder that food can be about more than just nourishment. It can open the door to unlocking cultural memories, resistance, and pride.

Supporting Chef Nak’s Work:

https://www.chefnak.com/

SAOY - Royal Cambodian Home Cuisine

NHUM - Recipes from a Cambodian Home Kitchen

www.instagram.com/chefnak/