Self-Taught Chef Turned Cambodian Cuisine Ambassador

Ratanak Ros, or Chef Nak, dedicates her life to preserving and promoting Cambodian cuisine. The 34-year-old self-taught chef, originally from the capital city of Phnom Penh, discovered her passion for cooking as a child. Now she’s an ambassador for Cambodian flavors, and works with the Ministry of Tourism to develop Cambodian gastronomy. On her U.S. tour in July, the entrepreneurial Chef Nak talked to VOA about her journey from chopping garlic in her kitchen to overseeing a company that and develops menus for restaurants, hosts cooking shows, and produces a cookbook.