Maison Francaise is one of those gem of a restaurant which, when you step into it, you immediately feel a rush of well-being, awe and comfort, all at once. Tucked in an almost secluded spot on a road very less-travelled (at least, for me… in fact, I didn’t even know such a road existed!) this charming French House – that’s what “Maison Francaise” means, is set to impress.
I can’t help but be marvelled by the chic simplicity of the main dining area… the windows so prettily dressed with lacy curtains, black and white tables and chairs – the former simply adorned with plain white tablecloths and cosy warm lighting teasing the space from elegant lamps hung from the ceiling and walls. What I really love about the place is the abundance of natural light flooding in from the wide windows and doors, which makes food photography such a joy here.
The restaurant spans three levels – there’s the main dining hall on ground level, the cigar lounge and private dining on a floor above and at the bottom floor, the Oasis Lounge, a bar and more function space with an external swimming pool. Every corner and terrace have been well thought out and I can just imagine the parties and events that are held here, from the lavish to the simple intimate ones.
A collaboration between the owner, Sainy Chun and Chef Franck Lamache, both of whom come with impeccable foundations and credentials in the fine art of culinary indulgence. Sainy, the epitome of classy chic may seem demure but her vast experience in culinary arts and hospitality spans across the globe, from Europe to Korea to Shanghai and Japan. Chef Lamache describes his style of cooking as “light, refined and healthy but authentically French”. Having worked in many renowned 3-Michelin Starred outlets like the Crillion Hotel in Paris, Alain Ducasse and Le Taillevent, Chef Lamache’s ingenuity lies in marrying simple flavours and coming up with exquisite visual artistry on a plate.
Maison Francaise is the perfect place to spend a quiet romantic dinner or an afternoon catching up with your friends over tea or brunch on a lazy Sunday. I was totally spoiled and smitten by Chef Lamache’s Sunday brunch offerings. There’s no need to refer to any menu as the chef has already lined up the dishes for the brunch, based on what’s freshest and available that Sunday. As soon as you are ready, just smile and nod at the ever-ready wait staff and they’ll know what to do.
The First Serving of the Sunday Brunch has a list of goodies like Potato & Foie Gras Soup, Angus Beef Carpaccio, Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon and Green Salad. Of course the meal starts with a basket of freshly-baked French breads, brioches & croissants served with jams and butter. I had to restrain myself not to over-indulge on these but oh gosh, it was so hard because they were so good!
The appetite is stronger than the mind, I’m sorry to say… I ordered a second plate of the divine croissants. The thing with this brunch is you can order as many servings as you can stomach, from the planned menu but my advice is that you should only do that AFTER you have tried out everything once over. Believe me, the selection is wide and varied and most likely you will be stuffed even after just one serving of everything!
Croissants are so light, flaky and buttery that a trail of crumbs on your clothes is quite inevitable!
My favourite Potatoes & Foie Gras Soup
I love every item in the First Serving and it’s quite heart-breaking to pick any favourite! Let’s just say my least favourite is the Green Salad. The Potato & Foie Gras Soup is thick and creamy without overpowering flavours. The Angus Beef Carpaccio is fine and delicate… the bunches of arugula a perfect fragrant foil to the meat.
The smooth Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon are divine and I am careful not to eat that with the breads … savouring the eggs and salmon on their own is the right way to do it!
The Second Serving refers to the mains. Plates of Grilled Slipper Lobster with Morel Mushroom Sauce, Lamb Mechoui with Roasted Potatoes, Seared Ribeye Steak with Green Peppercorn Sauce and Green Beans & Ratatouille appear on my table. My favourites are the Ribeye Steak and Grilled Slipper Lobster.
Grilled Slipper Lobster with Morel Mushroom Sauce
Lamb Mechoui
Chef Lamache makes a mean green peppercorn sauce (one of his signature sauces) which goes perfectly with the juicy seared ribeye. The roasted potatoes should not be missed – their crusty edges yielding warm soft centres inside, perfectly flavoured and oh-so-addictive!
Seared Ribeye Steak with Green Peppercorn Sauce
Roasted Potatoes – don’t miss this!
Ratatouille
A platter of cheeses, butter and baguette slices appears on our table. By this time I’m already happy and full but because the cheese pieces are overly pungent, I help myself to them and found them to be very pleasantly palatable. By this time, my glass of champagne has arrived and swirling this in my mouth enhances the distinct flavours of the cheeses.
A glass of champagne is included in the brunch
Cheese & Bread Platter
A selection of pretty desserts perching on a piece of black slate comes next. I spot Poached Mirabelle, Green Apple Sorbet, Passionfruit Entremet and Apple Tart and cannot decide which to go for first. OK, the sorbet is the obvious choice as it’s fast melting. It turns out to be one of the best sorbets I’ve had for a while – I love its light refreshing nuances of tanginess and slight sweetness.
Dainty & delicate desserts – so typically French!
Green Apple Sorbet
Apple Tart
Passionfruit entremet
The Poached Mirabelle is my favourite – the plums still retain a good bit of succulence despite having been poached – I totally enjoy its delicate fruity aroma. I like how the desserts are not overly sweet – definitely a plus factor in my books.
Poached Mirabelle
Brunch at Maison Francaise is served every Sunday from 11:30am – 2:30pm. The menu changes weekly. It’s priced at RM148++ per person (with soft drinks and chilled juices) and RM188++ (with red & white wine). A glass of champagne is included in the set – what is a lazy Sunday without a glass of sparkly, right?
Their dinner menu looks totally enticing – the a la carte selection offers lots of mouth-watering items. But if you are too flustered to make choices, go for their special degustation menus (starting from RM198++ per person) and let Chef Lamache take you on a delightful French gastronomic journey!
Maison Francaise
5 Changkat Kia Peng
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2144-1474
www.maisonfrancaise.com.my
especially love your three photos of the bread rolls and their spreads! beautiful colors and textures 😀
Thanks… I love that pic too 🙂
Huge fan of the food here! Time to pay them another visit:D
Hehe…yeah, I’m a fan too! 🙂
Waaaa…what a regal feast! M so jealous…got bubbly to boot…and slipper lobster…my eyes r all green! ;))
What lah you…I can’t wait to read about YOUR dining experience there, hehe!