In a town known for its abundance of spectacular entertainment and world-renowned restaurants, Grand Hyatt Nashville has introduced the city to something it has never seen before: Le Petit Chef.
This new-to-town restaurant is so popular that it’s booked three months in advance. It seamlessly fuses entertainment and fine dining into one unforgettable experience that’s not like any other dinner reservation you’ve ever had and is truly the first of its kind. It’s the perfect place to be, whether that be for a date night, a night out with friends, or even a night out on the town with family.
“Nashville has a very vibrant restaurant scene, there’s this element of show, this element of experience and dining, and I think that one thing that we’ve created is the high-class food offering that comes with it,” Grand Hyatt Nashville’s General Manager, Marc Sternagel explains. “It’s not just that we put this show on for us, it was very important to have an elevated dining experience, and we combine it with a show effect. It’s something that’s unique, something that you don't see every day, and it’s just something for special moments or even if you just want a different date night.”
So, what exactly is Le Petit Chef?
It’s an immersive dining experience produced by Grand Hyatt Nashville and 2Spicy Entertainment GmbH that utilizes a projector that’s built into the ceiling and visual mapping that projects the world’s most miniature chef—Le Petit Chef— onto the dinner table. Then, he will make their dinner in front of the patron’s own eyes and they will get to witness his cooking mishaps right onto the plate as he “prepares” the five-course meal. But the tiny chef isn’t actually cooking the dinner. The projection of his cooking is synced to the extremely talented kitchen staff who is working hard to bring to life the chef’s creations so the customers can taste them, with each course being drastically different from the previous course.
“It’s not just sitting there and getting a meal, it's an animation that’s taking place right in front of you, there’s a little storyline around you,” Marc says. “It’s a little chef who experiences some ups and downs while he’s preparing the meal for you, so you get to experience the storyline, and eventually, when he’s done, they come and serve you the matching dish, and you get to experience great food.”
Those who dine with Le Petit Chef can expect their dishes to be cooked to perfection while being able to have a little taste of everything: from wagyu tenderloin to a lobster cioppino, the chef prepares it all topped off with a perfect wine pairing that complements every course. The dining experience also offers a vegetarian and kid’s menu so guests of all appetites can feel welcome. They can also accommodate those who are dairy, gluten, and fish-free without compromising the unforgettable experience.
“We are using high-end, quality products, it’s all prepared fresh, so nothing is premade, nothing is done weeks in advance, and it is done right in the kitchen and literally right when the video runs, we start plating,” Marc says. “It’s quite a logistical matter.”
Middle Tennessee is one of the few spots in America that gets to experience this worldwide phenomenon, as there are currently over 71 locations available worldwide for Le Petit Chef. After five months of figuring out the logistics, the Grand Hyatt Nashville was finally able to introduce the public to Le Petit Chef in late May. Since its opening, the experience has quickly blown up, and there are no signs of slowing down.
Customers can expect their experience to take an hour and a half and two hours, making it a perfect dinner experience before any other plans they may have for the evening.
“You get a great product, and you’re not in the restaurant for the entire night, so it’s a speedy service you don’t have to sit there with endless breaks in between,” Marc says. “It’s a fairly speedy and great experience, and the time that it takes to experience it is just a perfect combination that you enjoy the meal and enjoy the presentation, but it doesn't take up the entire night.”
Le Petit Chef is an experience that you will talk about for months after your reservation, leaving you wanting more. This whimsical experience is something you’ll have to see to believe. So book a reservation, head down to the Grand Hyatt, and prepare to be immersed in the magic that is Le Petit Chef.
Le Petit Chef is just 6 cm tall, and he will not grow any bigger. According to legend, he was born in April 2015 in Marseille, France. Enjoy an unforgettable experience with delightful dining and entertainment. By using a profound artistic knowledge, and combining it with the latest technology, his "parents" - the art directors of Skullmapping - tell stories with stunning bespoke visuals, such as “Le Petit Chef”. The technology they use is called 3D Projection Mapping.
The show is paired with themed music, props, and an exquisite menu. A miniature chef to life on your dinner table, all through the magic of visual mapping. By mapping your dining table and the objects on it (e.g. your plates and cutlery), they are able to project a virtual story onto the tabletop. The 3D effect is often thought of as a hologram or a 3D projection. In fact the use of special optical techniques, length distortions from the right angle to produce the effect or illusion of 3D.
"It’s something that’s unique, something that you don't see every day, and it’s just something for special moments."