Le Petit Chef: The world’s smallest chef has booked his return ticket to Malta
Le Petit Chef Malta is officially making a comeback. The internationally renowned immersive and highly interactive dining experience is returning to the island — bringing the world’s smallest chef and his rather elaborate dinner service with him.
Now running in 135 locations across 52 countries, Le Petit Chef uses 3D projection mapping to turn the table into a miniature stage, with the animated chef appearing directly in front of diners to prepare, plate and generally make a theatrical production out of each course before the real thing arrives. It’s a feast for the senses, part dinner, part storytelling, and considerably more entertaining than watching someone across the table photograph their starter for ten minutes.
After making its Malta debut at Tiffany’s Lounge around five years ago, the experience is back for a second outing — this time at Adura, the Mellieha Mediterranean-fusion restaurant known for its focus on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. And they’re not simply clearing a few tables to make room for the world’s smallest chef.
The lower floor of the restaurant, formerly The Osteria, is being completely refurbished for the experience. Exterior light will be blocked out and a false wall installed at the entrance, creating an almost hidden, speakeasy-style arrival before guests enter the show.
Reviews of Le Petit Chef around the world have been mixed, but there’s a noticeable common thread among many of the less enthusiastic ones: they tend to come from larger chain hotels or venues running it more like a cabaret-style evening, where the food isn’t necessarily the main event. Malta did rather well on that front the first time around. The chef behind the Tiffany’s Lounge edition later went on to become head chef at one-Michelin-starred Fernandõ Gastrotheque, and the food was genuinely good. This time, with Adura taking care of the menu and seating limited to just 32 guests per show, it’s reassuring to see that the restaurant side of the experience hasn’t been treated as an afterthought.
Le Petit Chef & Friends
There are several different Le Petit Chef productions around the world, and Malta is getting Le Petit Chef & Friends — essentially a culinary competition between four tiny chefs from Spain, Italy, Japan and France, each convinced they deserve the coveted golden chef’s hat. Four chefs, four countries and four courses. Naturally, only one can win.
The four-course Grand Menu follows the competition around the world, with each course representing one of the four countries:
Spain — basil pesto, heirloom tomatoes, thyme pangrattato, rocket, Jamón Pata Negra and Manchego.
Italy — mushroom and truffle raviolacci, five-cheese sauce, crispy pancetta, pickled shimeji mushroom, crispy kale and freshly shaved truffle.
France — beef fillet, béarnaise sauce and Parmesan fries.
Japan — matcha cake, white chocolate and wasabi purée, white chocolate mousse, pistachio cream and hibiscus.
There’s also a Classic Menu with a different four-course selection, alongside dedicated vegetarian and children’s menus.
Adura plans to run Le Petit Chef & Friends for the first few months, with the possibility of eventually rotating between two or three different Le Petit Chef productions on different days.
And having experienced Le Petit Chef during its original Malta run, this is one return I’m genuinely rather pleased about. It’s clever, immersive, occasionally ridiculous in exactly the right way, and one of those rare dining concepts where the spectacle actually gives you something to talk about.
Le Petit Chef & Friends arrives at Adura in Mellieha this September. Bookings are now open.
Prices: Grand €118 | Classic €100 | Vegetarian €100 | Children €50
Le Petit Chef & Friends at Adura
5 Cross Square
Mellieħa
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