A Food and Drink Adventure in Luang Prabang, Laos
It was pitch black on the river. Streetlights glimmered on the bank ahead of us, reflecting in the still water of the Nam Khan river, as we made our way steadily across, accompanied only by the sound of our little wooden boat’s motor. Steep steps on the riverside led up to the road and Paste Laos, the new fine dining restaurant just opened by Michelin-starred Thai chef Bee Satongun of Paste Bangkok.
Paste is a major new addition to Luang Prabang, Laos’ former Royal capital, and confirmation that Laotian cuisine is on the rise. Though far less famous than the food of neighboring Thailand and Vietnam, there’s plenty in this South-east Asian country for foodie travellers to discover, from fresh, intriguing dishes at the recently opened Botanical Garden’s to canapes and cocktails on stylish Mekong river cruises. Across the city, you find not only Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Laotian restaurants, but everything from Scandinavian bakeries and French bistros, a reflection of the diverse cultures that have fed into Luang Prabang over the centuries.