Phnom Penh restaurant review > Worth the wait Katie Czenczek Staff Writer kkk f you're looking for Vietnamese food that isn’t pho, then look no further than Phnom Penh! This hole-in-the-wall restaurant has been garnering buzz for years. It features numerous accolades displayed on their wall, including a signed menu from none other than Anthony Bourdain. Named after the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh is a Vietnamese-Cambodian fusion restaurant that will have you going back for seconds... and thirds. Located on East Georgia Street in Chinatown, The restaurant is a quick walk from Main Street-Science World SkyTrain Station. They’ve recently upgraded their sign, so the bright red banner should be enough to signal that youre at the right place. Oh, along with the large line waiting outside. It’s definitely not the best place if you're looking for a quiet dining experience, as the restaurant isn’t famous for its ambiance. Loud, with the family-table style setup, you might find yourself sitting right beside some strangers. The staff are efficient and excellent at recommending dinner options, and you'll be shocked at how quickly you get your meals after sitting down. One problem I find is that it can be hard to wave down a waiter to get your name on the waitlist. Prices are reasonable given how much food you find on your plate, and you'll never leave the restaurant feeling famished, as this place will make sure you get your fill. Phnom Penh is family run, and you can literally taste the time and care that goes into each recipe on the extensive menu. However, the drawbacks to relying on family recipes is that it doesn’t have too many options for anyone with food restrictions. My first recommendation would be to try their butter beef. It makes for an excellent share platter, though you'll be What Is Vero? > New app takes a crack at undermining Instagram’s influence Jillian McMullen Staff Writer ero, which comes from the Italian word for “truth,” is a reasonably new app that has been gaining attention lately for appealing to the annoyed social media elite. Many users are frustrated that the various platforms haven't listened to their demands for the return of a chronological timeline—instead opting for an algorithm-determined timeline. The current algorithm is engagement- based, where the number of likes, comments, video views, etc., affect the likelihood of your post being seen. In its original news release regarding the changes, Instagram claimed “the order of photos and videos in your feed will be based on the likelihood you'll be interested in the content, your relationship with the person posting, and the timeliness of the post.” All the posts would still be there, just in a different order. Unfortunately for users with few followers, this has meant that only about 10 per cent of their posts are being seen. Furthermore, because the algorithm is not only based on engagement from followers, but also engagement from the posting user, users that have an economic interest in interacting with their followers (i.e. companies promoting products) are dominating feeds. Vero’s biggest appeal, then, comes from its chronological and ad-free feed. According to its publicly displayed manifesto, the app will not “curate it, manipulate it, insert advertising in it, or hold back posts” and users will not have to pay to “boost [their] post” or “reach [their] audience.” A subscription-based model makes this possible. Users pay an annual fee, a sum which is supposed to only be the cost of a few cups of coffee. The app has very similar functions to Instagram and Facebook. Users can post images and videos with the same editing features as its predecessor. Unlike Instagram, you can post music wanting it all to yourself after the first bite. Butter beef is a lightly-seared dish, cooked in a medley of rice vinegar, soy sauce, and fish sauce. It may not be for everyone because of its “fresh from the butcher” look, but if rare beef doesn’t scare you, it’s worth a try. The meat is garnished with cilantro and fried onions, which gives the dish a well- rounded flavour. The beef melts in your mouth and is irresistible with the sauce. One critique I have for this dish is that some people may find it a tad salty. The other dish I recommend actually offers three different options, depending on what type of meat and texture you'd like. This dish is for anyone suggestions or even books you've been reading. It also features avenues to sell products and to make charitable donations, but those are kept away from the main feed. I would even say that the interface is far more appealing than either Instagram’s or Facebook’s. The black and teal colour scheme and minimalist look give the app a modern aesthetic. I'm skeptical regarding the longevity of Vero’s model. The creators claim that the subscription model will keep ads off feeds, but I think we've all seen how quickly that can change once an app becomes popular enough—!'m looking at you, Snapchat! Furthermore, although Photo of Phnom Penh by Mijune on FollowMeFoodie.com who says, “There’s no such thing as too much garlic.” Rightfully named, the garlic squid, garlic frog legs, or garlic chicken wings are all fantastic! All of the meats are deep-fried to golden brown perfection in a sweet and crispy batter. A light lemon pepper dipping sauce cuts down on the grease level, making them an absolute delight to the taste buds. If your ideal restaurant is a lively, food quality-oriented place, then Phnom Penh is the place for you. There are so many wonderful options on the menu that you'll be sure to find something flavourful and filling. Promotional image for Vero the app is allowing new users to join the service for free right now, there’s no word on when that will end, meaning eventually users will have to pay to reach their audience, which ironically negates the premise of their product. I don’t believe Instagram will see a huge drop in current user engagement— most people, after all, will not want to rebuild an already-established following— but Vero perhaps presents an avenue towards more content- driven platforms... that is, if it can survive a recent scandal regarding one of its owners allegedly being involved in some human rights violations.