La Petite Maison’s Raphael Duntoye: the chef who believes in sharing great food
In Hong Kong, sharing dishes is an instinctive part of dining culture. It is a concept that Raphael Duntoye puts into practice at his newly-opened Mediterranean/Niçois restaurant La Petite Maison
Chef patron Raphael Duntoye has been in Hong Kong quite a bit over the past few years, searching for the perfect spot for his restaurant, La Petite Maison. He finally found it at H Queens in Central, and the restaurant is opening its doors on Monday September 10. It is the fifth branch of the famed Mediterranean/Niçois restaurant after London, Dubai, Miami and Abu Dhabi.
The original restaurant, which opened 28 years ago in Nice, is still owned by founder Nicole Rubi and is a favourite of celebrities such as Elton John, Beyoncé and Jay Z when visiting the French town. Duntoye bought the international franchise, modernising some of the classic dishes and creating a sharing concept at his restaurants.
Duntoye: When I went over to the restaurant in Nice, I found a few dishes that would work. I took five of the best dishes that were important to La Petite Maison, and dishes people identify with at this restaurant. I felt that for this to work I had to change the whole concept of the menu. Having worked at Zuma, the sharing concept is something I love very much. It’s something that, if you think about it, when you’re home at the family table, you share food. But when you go to Western restaurants, we have individual plates and half the time you are wondering what the other plates taste like.
Why did you choose Hong Kong to open La Petite Maison?
Hong Kong is a dynamic city. There’s a lot of competition as well. I have been coming to Hong Kong for the last eight years, looking for sites.