Globally acclaimed chef Dominique Crenn, the first female chef in the United States to earn three Michelin stars for her flagship restaurant, Atelier Crenn, in San Francisco, has chosen Melbourne to expand her legendary culinary offering. Petit Crenn, an all-day venue inspired by Paris's comptoirs, has opened at 495 Collins Street in the CBD, and it's surely one of Australia's most significant hospitality openings in recent years. Rooted in French hospitality, Petit Crenn reflects Crenn's signature approach to French bistro cooking, shaped by Melbourne's globally renowned dining culture. The intimate 40-seat venue, designed by Crenn herself, draws on the landscapes and coastlines of Crenn's home region of Brittany, France. The all-day venue moves seamlessly from 7am coffees to leisurely lunches, after-work snacks and drinks, and unhurried dinners. "Opening the doors this week is a very emotional moment for me. Petit Crenn comes from the small cafes of France I grew up with, where you might come in for a coffee and stay for lunch, and nobody minds. I have carried that idea with me for a long time, and to finally share it with Melbourne, with a team who understands it so well, means a great deal," says Crenn. Head Chef Juan Rendón, who has worked across Curtis Stone's restaurants, will lead the kitchen. Sandwiches and rotating fresh pastries from Monforte Viennoiserie carry guests through the day before Crenn's signatures take over. Find steak tartare, croque madame, seasonal tartines and salads, and of course, the inimitable savoury madeleines with caviar. A rotating plat du jour brings different French classics to the table every night from Tuesday through Saturday. You might find lobster tartine with uni béarnaise one night, and French raviole with époisses and beurre blanc another, giving you another excuse to come back time and time again. Petit Crenn is the work of a partnership between Crenn and Australian alternative asset manager Salter Brothers, which boasts a growing portfolio of hotels, restaurants and lifestyle destinations. Matthew Butcher, Director of Culinary at Salter Brothers, says, "Watching Dominique and the team bring Petit Crenn to life over the past few months has been a real privilege. It's small, personal and very particular, which is exactly what we hoped it would be. Seeing Melbourne walk through the doors today is the moment we've been working towards, and we're proud to have Dominique's first Australian venue on Collins Street." Images: Mitch Lowe. Like what you see? Subscribe to the Concrete Playground newsletter to get stories just like these straight to your inbox.
