“Le Corto is where I can be myself,” he shares. Here, Sakal Phoeung is not only a chef, but also an inspiration—a leader of a young team and the builder of a community that celebrates living slowly and savouring every moment. As Chairman of Escoffier Vietnam, he remains committed to organising networking initiatives, offering opportunities to others and mentoring the next generation of chefs, those he believes will help shape the future of Vietnamese cuisine.
This drive is deeply personal. Having grown up in modest circumstances, Sakal knows the transformative power of opportunity. On his journey, he was fortunate to be guided by masters, and now in Vietnam, he seeks to pass on that gift. Whether through training young chefs, working alongside local farmers, or encouraging the growth of his team, he believes firmly in the power of uplifting others. It is not only a professional ethic; it is a way of life.
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“I am French of Khmer origin. But today, I am part of Vietnam. When I cook a dish with Vietnamese ingredients, I am not just cooking; I am living with this land, with its people,” he says.
For him, the culinary journey has never been simply about technique or fame. It is a quest to find harmony between self and place; between roots and the present. And Vietnam, in its quiet way, has become the land where Chef Sakal Phoeung found himself.