The sleepy town that won a place on Unesco's food map

'Вatdambng mean avei chhnganh? Anything delicious in Battambang?" crooned popular Cambodian singer Sinn Sisamouth in his song of the same name. For Cambodians, everything is delicious in Battambang and now, much to their delight, Unesco agrees.

-  Lara Dunston

A quiet provincial capital in the north-west of the country, Battambang has been named a city of gastronomy and is one of 55 places added to the UN agency's Creative Cities Network of destinations known for crafts and folk art, design, film literature, media arts and music, as well as cuisine.

Yet no Battambang restaurant has ever appeared on a global where to eat list and the city doesn't have a single fine-dining space presided over by a hot young, creative chef.

What Battambang does have is culinary traditions and a reputation for producing the country's most delicious food: flavourful fruit and vegetables, award-winning rice, traditional fresh rice noodles and rice paper. It also has tasty street food sold at markets, roadside stalls and rustic eateries. The local tourism and culture authorities hope Unesco's designation will establish the city as a destination for foodies.