As you step through the front door of La Petite Maison, a delectable collection of scents fills the quaint room. Waiting to greet you at the door is the cheery and friendly chef himself, Geoffrey Holman. It’s a hidden gem in downtown Kelowna, but it’s certainly a night to remember.
French trained chef Geoff Holman was drawn to the little house on St. Paul Street, and after cutting through a lot of red tape, Holman brilliantly transformed a Kelowna home into a charming European restaurant.
Photo credit: KelownaNow.
Serving a five-course, fixed-price meal of $39, chef Holman creates a divine evening of French cuisine with simple and clean ingredients.
Holman’s menu is constantly changing. Depending on his creative daily flair and what ingredients are available at local markets, Holman will design a five-course meal including a simple soup, an appetizer, a green salad to clean the palate, a main course, and a dessert.
On Tuesday, chef Holman began with a beef and chicken consommé, teasing the palate before bringing out the appetizer, which was a buckwheat crepe filled with roasted red peppers and cream cheese, then covered with an orange and maple cream sauce.
Photo credit: KelownaNow.
The main course consisted of a seafood medley with perfectly seasoned sweet potato puree and roasted cumin carrots. Top with just the right amount of truffle oil, the seafood medley was a wonderful collection of tastes and textures.
Photo credit: KelownaNow.
Finishing the perfectly balanced meal was a hot serving of polenta with coconut and ice cream.
Chef Holman caters to individuals with specific dietary requirements as well; in the past, he’s served vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free five-course meals.
Holman invites his guests to give him a call in advance to reserve a table. That way he can get to know your interests and dietary needs in order to prepare a delightful meal accordingly.
Photo credit: La Petite Maison website.
In true European style, guests are invited to bring their own wine and not required to pay a corkage fee.
It’s all in the details at Le Petite Maison. From the crisp table cloth to the smooth sound of Louis Armstrong serenading in the background, the restaurant is inviting, comfortable, and classy.
Photo credit: La Petite Maison website.
The atmosphere is cozy, but not pretentious. Chef Holman’s restaurant can only host around 16 people at a time, but he said he really enjoys the community model of serving.
“I want to be a little restaurant where I’m serving 10-12 people a night, 4-5 nights a week, that’s it,” said Holman. “I want people to come in, enjoy the good food, enjoy the company, and put up with me.”
Chatting with sheer enthusiasm, Holman explained that French food isn’t always the focus. He also hosts German and British nights, and in the summer, Holman and his colleague will be serving Caribbean food.
As the summer months approach, guests will have the option of grabbing some jerk chicken outside on the patio or sitting down to a five-course meal inside, explained Holman.
Hours of operation are typically Tuesday through Saturday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., but chef Holman is flexible. Give chef Holman a call at 250-718-6278 or 250-878-7789 and find a time that works for both parties, as Holman is always eager to create something new and inventive.
Chef Holman is also happy to cater to private parties.
Located at 1310 St. Paul Street in downtown Kelowna, La Petite Maison is little Europa right here in the Okanagan.
A few weeks ago, KelownaNow wrote an article on cheap, delicious eats in downtown Kelowna, as part of our bi-weekly restaurant features.
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