In 2013, Le Petit Sao was born in L’Île-des-Sœurs. A project by Lise Dang and her husband Jean-Paul Belmont, this concept of a Vietnamese food counter quickly took off with an ephemeral summer counter at the Atwater Market, followed by addresses in Pointe-Saint-Charles and Old Montreal. .
As its name suggests, Le Petit Sao is the “little” brother of Sao Sao, a Vietnamese restaurant opened in Brossard in 2009 by Lise’s parents. “At the time, my parents wanted to offer traditional Vietnamese cuisine, but in a slightly more modern setting. With Le Petit Sao, I wanted to continue in this line, restore its letters of nobility and also this cool side to Vietnamese cuisine, homemade cuisine with great ingredients”, sums up the dynamic restaurateur.
For 14 years, Lise’s mother, whom everyone calls Mama Thi, led the Sao Sao kitchen brilliantly and tirelessly. But as the time for a deserved retirement had come, now a new generation is taking over. To mark the occasion, Sao Sao became Le Petit Sao Brossard at the beginning of the year. “It was the logical next step,” says Lise Dang. It’s a continuity and we’re going to keep Sao Sao classics like spicy beef soup and spring rolls in Brossard. »
To carry out this new adventure, the couple and their partner Johnny Khaa have an ace in their game: an association with the talented chef Gilles Tolen (La Société, Henri Brasserie Française), a long-time friend who has decided to abandon tablecloths white fine cuisine to embark on this project and take over from Mama Thi. “After the pandemic, I felt like I had toured these kinds of establishments. For a year, Mama Thi showed me the subtleties of her cooking! », says the one who plans to add a few creations and specialties to the menu over time… including the new sundae topped with a peanut sauce!