Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Cheata Nao is a second generation Khmer Canadian who is pursuing a new career showcasing Cambodian cuisine. She has always been a good cook and loved hosting dinner parties since she was a teenager, but back then she was focused on learning how to master western dishes. It wasn’t until she moved away for university that she really missed her mom’s Cambodian cooking. That’s when she started experimenting and trying to replicate her mom’s delicious dishes. Cheata spent the last 17 years in the wine industry as a buyer, events manager and educator. Her love for wine started when she landed a part-time job as a sales associate at a boutique wine shop in Vancouver, BC while she was pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies at the University of British Columbia.Disappointed by the lack of representation of Cambodian cuisine on food networks, magazine publications, and in cookbooks, she’s now on a journey to bring Cambodian cuisine to people through private catering, cooking classes, and pop-ups!Food and wine go hand in hand, so of course we discussed pairings with some staple Cambodian dishes! Here are Cheata's not-so-obvious recommendations:Salaw Machu Kreung - California Zinfandel with a little age or PrimitivoKathiew - Txakoli/Txakolina  or Vinho VerdeKhmer Curry - ZibibboBok Lahong - She went with more of a classic Asian pairing with this one: Mosel Riesling (Spätlese or Auslese)Cheata's "ah-ha" wine - Lucien LeMoine Bourgogne Rouge.  Connect with Cheata:CheataCooksCambodian.comInstagram @cheatacookscambodianEmail [email protected] Let's connect on Instagram and TikTok @KhmerVoices Do you have an inspiring story you'd like to share on Khmer Voices? DM me on social.

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