The US Embassy in Phnom Penh launched its first-ever “Restaurant Week 2023: Fresh From the USA” in Phnom Penh, to promote US agricultural products to the Cambodian business and culinary communities.

The event began on November 13 and will run until November 19. Nearly 20 participating restaurants across the capital will offer a variety of attractive food options, according to a US embassy press release.

“Restaurant Week is one example of the many marketing activities the US Department of Agriculture conducts around the world to introduce consumers to high-quality, nutritious, and safe US food,” US Ambassador W. Patrick Murphy was quoted in the release.

He added that the agricultural trade relationship between Cambodia and the US continues to grow.  Beef exports alone from United States to Cambodia increased 130 per cent from 2021 to 2022.

“Restaurant Week” would expand the reach of highly regarded, high-quality US food products in a key hospitality market, release suggested.

“Let’s Eat! With our very own US Embassy interns as they indulge themselves with American beef burgers and short ribs during our US Restaurant Week Phnom Penh promotion,” said the embassy, via social media.

Top Sopheak, Ministry of Tourism spokesman, said on November 14 that the week-long celebrations are an excellent initiative, as the food sector is one of the main attractions for many tourists.

He added that it is especially attractive to American tourists, as well as other foreigners who may want to taste American food while they are visiting Cambodia.

“Overall, I think that this event may help the hospitality industry to attract American tourists as well as other tourists,” said Sopheak.