La Résidence Phou Vao Launches Restaurant Tam Nan
Executive Chef Larisa Vesterbacka leads Tam Nan Restaurant and the revival of Lao’s traditional slow cooking methods
30 September 2022, Luang Prabang - Belmond has announced the launch of Tam Nan, the flagship restaurant of La Résidence Phou Vao, A Belmond Hotel, Luang Prabang, located in the spectacular mountain region of Laos.
Meaning “Legendary” or “Legend” in Laotian language, Tam Nan pays homage to the region’s traditional cooking techniques that honour heritage and authenticity, while bringing to life the culinary vision of Executive Chef Larisa Vesterbacka and a ‘Heart to Table’ concept that is rooted in genuine Laotian hospitality.
THE REVIVAL OF TAM NAN
The culinary experience at Tam Nan is designed to feel timeless, offering flavours that are evocative of Laotian legends and the old-world charm of Luang Prabang. In Tam Nan’s tasting menu, Chef Larisa was inspired to create dishes using traditional slow cooking methods to extract rich Laotian flavours, such as cooking bamboo, banana leaves and fresh coconut over a charcoal grill or stewing soup in a clay pot.
Highlighted dishes include Pha Sa Ngua, which are dumplings stuffed with Laotian Sheatfish and crispy fish roe, charcoal-grilled in banana leaf with stir fried bok choy, syrups and bitters. Tam Nan also offers an interpretation of Orlam, a famous Luang Prabang dish that is meticulously prepared with a slow cooked broth in a clay pot for 24 hours, with the base of buffalo meat first marinated, salted and sun dried for 3 to 4 days.
Rice will also be prominent in the menu, harvested from wetland or dryland farming in Laos and created in a variety of sticky and steamed rice options recommended for various accompaniments to soups, vegetables, Laap and meats. Chef Larisa will source most of her ingredients locally, honouring Laotian customs and traditions, and celebrating the community.
INTRODUCING EXECUTIVE CHEF LARISA VESTERBACKA
Spearheading Tam Nan, Chef Larisa channels her distinguished background and specialty in Asian cooking techniques throughout the restaurant’s menu. With 15 years of experience in Asian cuisine including in China, Thailand, and Cambodia, Larisa’s instinctive approach renders exquisite dishes with creative presentation and attention to detail. Growing up in Russia, Chef Larisa’s family garden flourished with fruits and vegetables that her relatives used to marinate, dry and boil using a lot of seasonings to make pickles and jams for the winter. It was Chef Larisa’s later encounter with Asian cuisine that established her lifelong passion for its electrifying spice, flavours and interesting textures, and she has since spent her career experimenting with creative combinations.
Chef Larisa comments, “At Tam Nan, we have built an entire collection of dishes and tastes of Luang Prabang and Laos as a whole, carefully selecting the best that can be found in the country. Laotian cuisine can surprise you with its variety, and vegetarians will be delighted to discover the entirety of Laotian flavours through Tam Nan.”
Newly launched as the beating heart of La Résidence Phou Vao, Tam Nan is where special moments can be shared over meaningful stories, highlighting local gastronomic traditions within a timeless setting.
Set on a serene hilltop, the hotel is moments away from the old-town Luang Prabang, where time sits still, offering a breathtaking escape, where guests can surrender to the calm atmosphere, surrounded in endless forest and spectacular mountain vistas.
About Belmond
Belmond has been a pioneer of exceptional luxury travel for over 46 years, building a passion for authentic escapes into a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations.
Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to perpetuate the legendary art of travel, taking discerning global travelers on breathtaking journeys. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with 50 remarkable properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, remote beach retreats like Cap Juluca in Anguilla, Italian hideaways such as Splendido in Portofino, or unrivaled gateways to world natural wonders such as Hotel das Cataratas inside Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. From trains to river barges, safari lodges to hotels, each unique property offers an incomparable experience with its own story to tell. The essence of the Belmond brand is built upon its heritage, craftsmanship and genuine, authentic service. Belmond sees its role as custodians of timeless heritage, dedicated to preserving its assets through sensitive ongoing restoration plans. Belmond is part of the world’s leading luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. www.belmond.com
Meaning “Legendary” or “Legend” in Laotian language, Tam Nan pays homage to the region’s traditional cooking techniques that honour heritage and authenticity, while bringing to life the culinary vision of Executive Chef Larisa Vesterbacka and a ‘Heart to Table’ concept that is rooted in genuine Laotian hospitality.
THE REVIVAL OF TAM NAN
The culinary experience at Tam Nan is designed to feel timeless, offering flavours that are evocative of Laotian legends and the old-world charm of Luang Prabang. In Tam Nan’s tasting menu, Chef Larisa was inspired to create dishes using traditional slow cooking methods to extract rich Laotian flavours, such as cooking bamboo, banana leaves and fresh coconut over a charcoal grill or stewing soup in a clay pot.
Highlighted dishes include Pha Sa Ngua, which are dumplings stuffed with Laotian Sheatfish and crispy fish roe, charcoal-grilled in banana leaf with stir fried bok choy, syrups and bitters. Tam Nan also offers an interpretation of Orlam, a famous Luang Prabang dish that is meticulously prepared with a slow cooked broth in a clay pot for 24 hours, with the base of buffalo meat first marinated, salted and sun dried for 3 to 4 days.
Rice will also be prominent in the menu, harvested from wetland or dryland farming in Laos and created in a variety of sticky and steamed rice options recommended for various accompaniments to soups, vegetables, Laap and meats. Chef Larisa will source most of her ingredients locally, honouring Laotian customs and traditions, and celebrating the community.
INTRODUCING EXECUTIVE CHEF LARISA VESTERBACKA
Spearheading Tam Nan, Chef Larisa channels her distinguished background and specialty in Asian cooking techniques throughout the restaurant’s menu. With 15 years of experience in Asian cuisine including in China, Thailand, and Cambodia, Larisa’s instinctive approach renders exquisite dishes with creative presentation and attention to detail. Growing up in Russia, Chef Larisa’s family garden flourished with fruits and vegetables that her relatives used to marinate, dry and boil using a lot of seasonings to make pickles and jams for the winter. It was Chef Larisa’s later encounter with Asian cuisine that established her lifelong passion for its electrifying spice, flavours and interesting textures, and she has since spent her career experimenting with creative combinations.
Chef Larisa comments, “At Tam Nan, we have built an entire collection of dishes and tastes of Luang Prabang and Laos as a whole, carefully selecting the best that can be found in the country. Laotian cuisine can surprise you with its variety, and vegetarians will be delighted to discover the entirety of Laotian flavours through Tam Nan.”
Newly launched as the beating heart of La Résidence Phou Vao, Tam Nan is where special moments can be shared over meaningful stories, highlighting local gastronomic traditions within a timeless setting.
Set on a serene hilltop, the hotel is moments away from the old-town Luang Prabang, where time sits still, offering a breathtaking escape, where guests can surrender to the calm atmosphere, surrounded in endless forest and spectacular mountain vistas.
About Belmond
Belmond has been a pioneer of exceptional luxury travel for over 46 years, building a passion for authentic escapes into a portfolio of one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the world’s most inspiring destinations.
Since the acquisition of the iconic Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 1976, Belmond has continued to perpetuate the legendary art of travel, taking discerning global travelers on breathtaking journeys. Its portfolio extends across 24 countries with 50 remarkable properties that include the illustrious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train, remote beach retreats like Cap Juluca in Anguilla, Italian hideaways such as Splendido in Portofino, or unrivaled gateways to world natural wonders such as Hotel das Cataratas inside Brazil’s Iguassu National Park. From trains to river barges, safari lodges to hotels, each unique property offers an incomparable experience with its own story to tell. The essence of the Belmond brand is built upon its heritage, craftsmanship and genuine, authentic service. Belmond sees its role as custodians of timeless heritage, dedicated to preserving its assets through sensitive ongoing restoration plans. Belmond is part of the world’s leading luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. www.belmond.com
