In Rosemont-Petite-Patrie, mortar meets pestle in a cooking workshop hosted by Super Boat People, where participants pound lemongrass, garlic, and galangal into kroeung—the aromatic paste that forms the foundation of Cambodian cuisine. The air fills with fragrant hits of citrus and spice, and there’s a sense of cultural reconnection taking place by way of the kitchen.
"It's serious on some points, but also very unserious or unpretentious in the way we do things," says Rémy Chhem, who co-founded Super Boat People with his partner Marie-Ève Samson.


At the first edition of SABAY SABAY, Super Boat People's famous papaya salad community competition at the community hub Bâtiment 7. | Photograph: Steven Peng-Seng Photography
The collective's name itself—a deliberate reclamation of the term once used to describe refugees fleeing Southeast Asia—carries that same blend of reverence and irreverence.
Unlock Montreal’s stories. Join The Main community.
Read this story free.
Enter your email to unlock your first article and get The Bulletin — our weekly roundup of food, art, and local culture.
- 5 free articles per month
- Save your favourite places & guides
- Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
- Stay connected to Montreal culture
Become an Insider.
Join a community that supports independent Montreal stories and celebrates the people shaping its culture.
Subscribe- Unlimited access to all stories
- Exclusive features & local insights
- Special offers and event invites
- 10% off in our shop
- Support local storytelling
Already a member? Sign in








