Chef Pierre De Favitski—Beyond the Plate

Renowned French chef Pierre De Favitski shares his vision for sustainable and homemade excellence in Cambodia.

After stints in restaurants across Spain and Switzerland, in 2003, Chef Pierre de Favitski embarked on a gastronomic adventure in Cambodia, where Pierre has carved a distinct niche. Initially tasked with managing a hotel school owned by NGO Pour Un Sourire D’Enfant (PSE), he ventured out on his own and, since 2005, has operated Le Deli Bistro Gourmet. In conversation with Prestige, Chef Pierre sheds light on his culinary philosophy and the unique offerings that make his establishment stand out.

What is your food philosophy?

I like my food preparations not to be overly sophisticated, allowing customers to understand what they are going to eat by simply looking at the plate. The process still requires a lot of technique and premium ingredients to be successful. People often refer to us as a fine dining establishment, but we are a casual bistro with affordable prices dedicated to delivering the highest quality at the best price.

How do you distinguish your establishment?

In line with my vision, our restaurant is 100 percent dedicated to homemade products, which gives us an edge over other eateries. We are extremely proud of our production lab, situated behind our bistro and kitchen, where we can experiment with new recipes and make our products.

In what ways do you integrate sustainability into your culinary pursuits?

Currently, there’s a big project underway in Mondulkiri. It is in its initial stages, so we seek involvement from the Ministry of Agriculture and other restaurants and hotels to create a sustainable model. In a nutshell, the climate in the region is ideal for growing crops. As a result, each restaurant owner involved in the project will get a small parcel of land, allowing them to grow their vegetables, thereby giving employment opportunities to many farmers and their families and distributing the vegetables to Phnom Penh daily.

Could you share your menu’s culinary highlights?

Our signature dishes include beef Wellington, homemade foie gras, scallops, and carpaccio with brown butter. Our customers can expect a culinary journey that fulfils their desires. Additionally, our team is working on soon-to-be-introduced new dishes.