Food Tripping

For Rishim Sachdeva—Head Chef at Olive Bar & Kitchen, Mumbai—the best way to get a gastronomic high is by experiencing the thrill of unusual flavours at hidden gems around the world. He shares some of his favourite discoveries with us.

Xi Ma Phu (Black Sesame Soup)

HOI AN, VIETNAM

On a recent trip to Hoi An, a charming, ancient little town, I was told not to miss out on xi ma phu or black sesame sweet soup, a popular post-lunch dessert with Chinese medicinal value. Apparently, there is only one street hawker (100 years old!) who has been selling it for decades at a specific street corner. It took a lot of walking and asking for directions before we finally managed to track him down. Carrying on the family tradition, his granddaughter scooped up a hot bowl of what looked like black gook from a metal pot. Its simple yet divine toasty sesame goodness, however, had us reaching for a second serving, plus a takeaway. They only make enough for daily portions, so get there early to sample this regional delicacy. DIRECTIONS Ask for Ngo Theiu’s stall on Nguyen Truong To street, close to Hoi An Orphanage.

Deep-fried Tarantula

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA