Pizzeria has roots in a famous family

phnompenhpost.com FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2009 15:01 POST STAFF

Photo by: Lily Partland

Sieng Tan, owner of La Volpaia Pizzeria.

The son-in-law of legendary Khmer-American journalist Dith Pran, whose work during the civil war was immortalised in the hit film The Killing Fields, is now running an Italian restaurant in Siem Reap.

Sieng Tan, owner of La Volpaia Pizzeria, which opened in May, is married to Dith Pran’s daughter Hemkarey and said he has many fond memories of his famous father-in-law.

“Even though he worked full time for the New York Times until he died last year, he still found time to make speeches about his experiences and I admire him for that.

“He really liked food, every time he came to visit us he just wanted to go to a nice restaurant.”

Sieng Tan left Cambodia in 1972 at the age of 17 to study in the US and avoid being drafted into the army. He lived mostly in Maryland, working in accounting, but recently decided to return to his homeland and set up a restaurant.

The Siem Reap branch of La Volpaia is the fourth to open, following others in Tokyo, Seoul and Phnom Penh. The organisation is something of a family affair, with the Seoul and Phnom Penh outlets run by Sieng Tan’s sister-in-law and brother, respectively.