Petite Millie,
G146 Ground Floor,
1Utama Shopping Centre,
1 Lebuh Bandar Utama,
Bandar UtamaPetaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7732 0395
Petite Millie’s mod-Euro specialities are big on flavours, yet light on the pocket.
NOT one to rest on his laurels, chef-turned-restaurateur Max Chin has forged ahead to open Petite Millie – a new casual dining eatery at 1 Utama even as he basks in the success of his year-old Millesime restaurant.
Reminiscent of a French-style brasserie minus the frills, Petite Millie or little Millesime is an evolution of Chin’s private kitchen dining concept. Meaning, the outlet serves hearty mod-European comfort food at prices that won’t break the bank.
According to co-owner, Lionel Lau, “Petite Millie is all about sharing. It’s an avenue for us to share our vision of modern European food drawn from our team’s collective experiences, knowledge and creativity with food lovers.
“We care deeply about the food we serve, and we’re out to prove that reasonably priced dishes don’t have to taste mediocre. All our specialities are cooked to order daily by well-trained chefs in the open kitchen.”
One of the distinct signature dishes here is poutine – a popular street food of French fries topped with lashings of thick, chunky gravy and cheese curds from Quebec, Canada. Raised to haute heights by chef Martin Picard when he topped poutine with foie gras, this humble offering’s fame spread further afield after celebrity chef Chuck Hughes won his epic Iron Chef America battle with his lobster poutine.
Petite Millie’s version is just as luxe, as the finger-thick fries come generously laden with delectably tender chunks of braised beef cheek, mushroom and grated cheese with truffle oil and ground pepper (RM26++ per serving). Served piping hot, the ambrosial dish has kept a Canadian customer and potato-loving foodies returning to the outlet weekly for their poutine fix.
Other notable variants to try include Smoked Chicken and Borlotti Beans (RM20.50++), Fish with Olives, Cherry Tomatoes and Mild Chilli (RM24++) and Piquant Lamb Sausage, goat cheese and fresh celery (RM22.50++) among others.
The White Truffle Oil Fish Pie (RM36.50++) is another simple but outstanding speciality that had us hooked. As we broke through the thin puff pastry lid, a whiff of the pie’s enticing aroma left us drooling. The deliciously creamy combination of leek, onion, mushroom and butter fish is a true example of comfort food at its best.
You’d never eat run-of-the-mill pizzas again once you have a bite of the French Alsatian Tarte Flambée (RM15.50++ to RM19.50++). Instead of tomato sauce, the paper-thin crispy base is basted with crème fraîche (French sour cream) and esoteric toppings such as Iberian beef and capsicum concasse, assorted mushroom seared with pistou (cold sauce made from garlic, basil and olive oil) or gratinated tomato, black olives and white anchovies.
The crab meat salad and avocado version is highly recommended – the crab’s fine flossy texture contrasting nicely with the wafer-thin, crunchy base, with its inherent fishy accent subtly tempered by fragrant thyme-lemon oil and ground black pepper.
Although the regular menu is enough to leave diners spoilt for choice, the two resident chefs are given room to explore and express themselves by creating weekly specials that are based on whatever fresh ingredients they can procure.
During our visit, the rustic dishes proffered were uncomplicated but brimming with bold, deeply satisfying flavours: Tagliatelle al Duck Ragu (RM28.50++), Spanish-influenced Roast Escolar (butter fish) with Saffron Aioli and Tobikko Spanish Tortilla (RM39.50++) and Charbroiled County Side Hill’s Lamb Cutlets with Aubergine-Lentil Mash (RM45++).
The inventive Warm Granny Smith Apple Crumble (RM16.90++) which looks deceptively like an apple pie, comprising tender apple sliced encased within a fine, crumbly crust makes the perfect treat for that proverbial icing on the cake.
Even the list of thirst-quenchers here are interesting. It features imaginative concoctions such as Chamomile Tea with Watermelon Juice (hot RM7++, cold RM8++) and Fuzzy Frost (RM14++), a refreshing mixture of mango, peach and tea.
Early bird shoppers can also look forward to a hearty breakfast which is served from 8am onwards at Petite Millie on weekends.