Kunming, capital of Southwest China"s Yunnan Province Photo: VCG

　　"Hello! A meat patty." "Enjoy your meal." On a street in Kunming, Southwest China"s Yunnan Province, the chatter of diners and the welcoming greetings of a shop owner drift out from a restaurant decorated with wood elements. Along with the voices comes the aroma of food, carrying a slightly unusual note. Upon entering, visitors immediately feel at ease in the warm, bright setting. Yet perhaps the most surprising sight is the "waiter" who weaves between the tables. He wears a chef"s uniform, with a foreign face but speaking fluent Chinese.

　　This is a French bakery café called À Table, and the "waiter" is Vincent Aguesse, the store"s founder from France. "Our shop"s name is À Table, which means "come to eat, food is served,"" Aguesse told the Global Times. ""À Table" is a name very much used in France, especially at home. So back home when it"s about lunch or dinner time, parents will always call with this name À Table. We want to give Chinese customers this cultural perspective."

　　Eleven years ago, Aguesse came to Kunming with his wife. As a passionate food lover, he enjoys exploring new dishes and culinary techniques. And the city known as the "Spring City" welcomed him with its distinctive and abundant ingredients. "In Yunnan, we are really blessed with the amount of fruits and vegetables, all year round we can have pretty much anything we want," Aguesse said.