French chef Vincent to roll out festival specials in Kunming

Located in the Beimen (north gate) street of Kunming, À table Bakery & Café is owned by a Chinese-French couple: The husband Vincent is a chef from Lorraine in north-eastern France, while the wife Haiya is a Kunminger. To welcome the coming Spring Festival (Chinese new year), the couple renovated the garden and the dining area, creating a French air in the Chinese old building.

Due to the on-going spreading of Covid-19, Chinese people are recommended to stay where they are for the Spring Festival, and many expats in China also choose to stay in the country for the holiday.

The other day, the couple repeatedly searched the internet for a couplet, and they came across an English one: Study good, work good, make money more and more; Eat well, sleep well, have fun day by day. “I hope the diners here will be amused by the lines,” said Vincent.

For the coming Spring Festival vacation, Vincent is preparing new dishes for his friends and customers. “Confit duck leg, steak and baguette with pork will be available, starting on Feb 14,” said Vincent, adding it’s special to have homemade French dishes in Kunming.

When the Spring Festival comes, the couple would put on traditional Chinese costumes, getting together with senior family members for cooking and dinner. “Over the years, Vincent has learned to cook some Chinese dishes: shredded pork with garlic sauce and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish.” Haiya said the dishes are favored by grandma, and will show off at this year’s reunion dinner.

Among the festivities, Vincent most loves the episode of eating the dumpling with a coin in it, which, he think, is similar to the galette des rois in France. The French specialty is a multiple-layer cake filled with almond and ice cream, with a feve in the core. The one who gets the cake will be as lucky as a king.

Surely, the coined dumpling often reminds Vincent of his relatives. After he settled down in Kunming, Vincent’s parents used to visit Kunming during holidays. But the on-going Covid-19 has made it difficult now. “Love the ones with you and home is where you are,” said Vincent, wishing his friends health and happiness in the new year.

Reporting by Wang Huan; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue