A column I wrote for Khmer 440...
It’s hard to spend more than a few minutes in Cambodia without noticing the appalling amount of rubbish everywhere. There are plastic bag graveyards beside every road, rivers choked full of bottles and cans, and witches’ knickers in every tree.
I don’t think I’ve ever been in a country where people love the sight of discarded plastic so much. You can be strolling through an idyllic stretch of forest and find a lotus flower-filled pond with cows supping from the water, the late afternoon sun glinting away on the ripples, and there’ll be mounds of sun-bleached bags and other human waste blighting the scenery.
Go to a picnic area overlooking some beauty spot, and it’s as if each family has filled the car with every bit of rubbish they or their neighbours can get their hands on, and then chucked it on the ground...
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"Reading this book is a serious test for any food writer. Not only has Alex Watts done what all of us say we would like to do, tested his mettle in a professional kitchen, he also writes about his experiences so well that you spend as much time being jealous of his writing skills as you do of his experiences. It's an annoyingly enjoyable read." - Simon Majumdar
Twitter Reviews:
"A rattling good read." - @chrispople
"It's a fab read. The Fat Duck chapters are class." - @Mcmoop
"If you claim to be a foodie you MUST buy this book." - @CorkGourmetGuy
"Bought your book and am hugely enjoying. Funny, engaging, interesting, lively." - @oliverthring
"A great read about the reality of working at The Fat Duck & other less famed restaurants." - @alanbertram
"Very funny, very close to the bone." - @AmeliaHanslow
"A great read and must have book for anyone in the industry." - @philwhite101
"Thoroughly enjoyed it." - @rosechadderton
"Excellent!" - @MissCay
"Just finished your book, and loved it! Thanks for ending on a happy note; it needed it after all the reality ;-)" - @voorschot
"Fab account of psycho chefs, plus work experience with Heston and Stein." - @Laurajanekemp
"Excellent read & loved the ‘scary duck’ tale! I look forward to the follow up book (no pressure ;D). Great memories of first being addressed as chef." - @granthawthorne
"Sensational account of a chef’s life, couldn't put it down. Get it from Amazon now!" - @Fishermansarms
"I'm loving your book. Very enjoyable. Some great one-liners. "His legs wobbled like a crab on stilts" had me chuckling." - @griptonfactor
"Highly recommended. A great book about changing careers for his love of cooking." @Whatsinmymouth
"Downloaded the book last Sunday and finished it the same day! Great read." - @MTomkinsonChef
"Very funny." - @SkyRuth
"Any of you who have flirted with chefdom, go and immediately download this book from Amazon - Down and Out in Padstow and London. Great read." - @el_duder
"Truly brilliant." - @kcassowary
"Just rattled through Down And Out in Padstow and London by Alex Watts in no time at all, what a great book." - @leejamesburns
"It's brilliant, a fine piece of work. If you've ever wanted to peer into a professional kitchen I can't recommend it highly enough." - @acidadam
"Fantastic read - the English Kitchen Confidential!" - @cabbagemechanic
"A great eBook to buy about serving your time (literally!) as a trainee chef." - @OkBayBach
"Great read." - @rankamateur
"Don't start reading it if you have things to do:)" - @NorthernSnippet
"Great book...couldn't put it down, read it non-stop on a train and finished it in one day." - @chunkymunki
"Jolly good read, feel free to do one more." - @esbens
There are also 12 reviews on its Amazon page.
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