“Hosting people is a real pleasure”: Cake’Thé, the confidential tea room on rue de la Capelle

Chez Cake’The, une ambiance tamisée. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

In Millau, Evelyne Fournier tells the story of the origins of her tea room Cake’The, rue de la Capelle.

A place where you feel at home. The smell of cake and tea invites passers-by on rue de la Capelle to step through the door. Evelyne Fournier opened her first tea room "Cake’The" thirty years ago, in Bourges.

The one in Millau was born nineteen years ago, when she left her hometown, handing over the first room to her daughter. "The town of Millau attracted me because there were many local shops and a good atmosphere. When I arrived here, I didn't know anyone but I was very well received by the people of Millau”, says the owner.

The exterior of Cake'Thé, rue de la Capelle. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

The origins of Cake’Thé

On a piano background, the one Evelyne Fournier bought for her musician son, she tells the origin of the name of her salon. “I called it Cake” because when I was younger, I helped my father, the butcher, every Saturday morning and I talked a lot.”When he found out I was going to open a tea room, he told me to call it that so people could gossip while eating cake and drinking tea.”“The anecdote explains why the large room is dotted with decorative chickens. “Every time someone wants to please me, they offer me a chicken in any form”.

Promoting short circuits

Evelyne Fournier works alone, at lunchtime to prepare and serve between 12 and 14 people and in the afternoon to take care of the tea room. "Lunch is vegetarian, which allows you to do the same thing for everyone. I work in a short circuit with many certified organic products.

A customer at Cake’The plays the piano. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

The founder of Cake’Thé also talks about the differences she observes between her customers in Bourges and those in Millau. "Here there is no tea culture at all. People often tell me to give them what I have, without taking into account the specifics. I like to introduce them to what I know"

A meeting place

Thanks to this unusual and confidential place, the manager says she has met some great people. "Sometimes people come here a little broken. Either they come to settle scores with the person who accompanies them or to restore a lost friendship, among other situations. I tell myself that if they can come away with something positive from here, it's a win, and that's often the case.