A taste of France in Le Petit Chéri

Paris is almost everyone's dream destination, but if you can't fly there to see the famed Eiffel Tower and get a taste of authentic French cuisine, just head to Le Petit Chéri for the next best thing. This new cafe-restaurant makes you feel like you are in a Parisian café without actually leaving the metro.

Inside Le Petit Cheri

The spacious interiors of the restaurant are elegantly decorated with artworks and mementos that will remind you of the City of Lights. There are miniature Eiffel Tower souvenirs and other similar novelty items on display. The stylish restaurant servers even wear berets, which complete the effect. Apart from the lovely ambience, what makes this place a must-visit is the food. Le Petit Chéri is actually the first food business venture of Edna Cureg. She and her husband have a printing business but they were inspired to put up this concept restaurant during their travels abroad. “We visited [Paris] twice and we fell in love with France. It was such a good experience. We thought of bringing home the experience.” According to Cureg, “[It is a] chance to share the experience with customers.” It’s teatime! Le Petit Chéri is a nice venue for some afternoon tea as well as coffee meet-ups. Its “Classic Afternoon Tea” offers a selection of gourmet hors d’oeuvres, finger sandwiches and homemade petit fours along with fragrant teas. But for those who prefer a simple cup of tea, try to get a table in the mezzanine, which has a display shelf with an interesting selection of books. Best to grab a nice read to keep you company while you sip tea or a frothy cappuccino. For those who want a caffeine-free drink, there's always hot chocolate. This sweet beverage is served with some whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder, and it comes with a cookie on the side. Of course, I couldn't resist ordering from the nice array of cakes and pastries on display. I simply had to sample the Mousse au Chocolat (P115) because I have a sweet tooth. Alternate layers of white and dark chocolate mousse sit on top of a chocolate cookie crust, and then topped with a smooth chocolate ganache, whipped cream and a cherry, too.

Mousse au chocolat

Although it was too pretty to eat, I just had to grab a spoonful of the rich dessert. It truly is perfect for chocoholics. A frequent diner, Mike Tiu, is also partial to this particular treat. “I like their chocolate mousse. It is not too sweet but it tastes great. Their desserts are one of the best. Sweets are my kryptonite!”   Another must-try is the L’Opera, layers of almond sponge cake soaked in coffee essence, chocolate ganache, coffee butter cream and then covered in a thick chocolate glaze. Practically every French patisserie has this cake, which is a nice accompaniment with coffee, as it is not cloyingly sweet. In fact, it has a little hint of bitterness from the coffee flavor. Aside from these sugary goodies, Le Petit Chéri also has freshly baked breads for those who want a different snack. Diners may also buy some loaves to take home.

Dainty macarons to end your French-inspired feast

Bonjour, foodies!      The restaurant dishes up delicious main courses like Bœuf Bourguignon and Coq Au Vin, which are typically French. I also discovered that there are a couple of Filipino favorites there like Tapa and Daing na Bangus—probably to cater to the local palate. There is also an assortment of appetizers like soups and salads, and even sandwiches and crepes, but I decided to try its new offerings. I got a taste of the Poulet Rôti (P472), a classic French bistro fare which is herb-roasted spring chicken with mashed potatoes. The chicken thigh was cooked just right; it was tender and juicy, and the rosemary herbs added another layer of flavor to it. I didn’t even have to put some honey-mustard sauce on it! I like the combination of the chicken and creamy mashed potatoes (made from scratch)—it is both filling and flavorful. I was also able to nibble on some Mango-Coriander Vivaneau (P385), fried red snapper filets served on a bed of mixed vegetable relish on a plate that’s drizzled with tangy mango-coriander sauce. It was scrumptious. I thought this dish seemed more Asian than French, but I liked it anyway.

Mango-coriander vivaneau

The food is great and all, but it can a bit pricey. Some of the main course meals could cost more than the average employee’s salary per day—especially the duck and lamb. I suppose the ambience made up for it somehow. Le Petit Cheri is truly a place to indulge.   Although I had a full meal already, I couldn’t leave the place without capping off my meal with some macarons—the quintessential French sweet treat. Le Petit Chéri has a myriad of macarons and I especially like the blue-colored mint chocolate flavor. This dainty dessert is the perfect ending to my French-inspired feast. — BM, GMA News Le Petit Chéri is located in Cluster 2, Molito Lifestyle Center, Madrigal Avenue, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City; (0917) 511-0138