In one of the art districts in Kunming there is a very special café called Kardia Caféor from the heart (cong xīn kāishĐ). This term literally means ‘starting from the heart’, but also sounds identical to an expression meaning ‘starting again’ or ‘renewal’. cardio is also the Greek word for heart and thus connects the Chinese and English names of this special café.
Bringing the world to Kunming
The owners are a couple with roots from Hong Kong and Canada, long-time foodies with a passion for making the highest quality baked goods from scratch. Husband Nathan is a big fan of Chef Thomas Keller (French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon). He is inspired by the level of precision he sees in Chef Keller’s work.
Nathan and his wife Priscilla bring the same intense focus of quality to this little corner of Kunming, which is such a unique find.
“In our cafe, we just wanted to bring the food we love to eat to Kunming. As ethnic Chinese, we grew up abroad in Canada, the US and Australia and there is such a diverse food available that that also defines who we are as people who love food.”
For example, Nate and Priscilla have fond memories of Vietnamese bakeries and visiting their Vietnamese friends’ homes growing up. Banh mi became a regular part of their children’s diet, so they decided to add it to Kardia Cafe’s menu as well.
Bagels from Montreal in China?
A recent new bakery item they brought to Kunming is the beloved Montreal bagel. Nathan, originally from Montreal, tested for months before finally launching this bagel. Kardia Cafe’s Montréal bagels have a distinctly crispy outside and chewy inside that’s different from “the bagels you find here,” says Priscilla. This is because Nathan first boils the bagels in water malt syrup before baking, resulting in the unique texture.
Made from scratch
One of the previous names Nathan and Priscilla tossed around for the café was ‘Made From Scratch’. This is because all baked goods are prepared with great care every morning using high-quality, often imported ingredients.
Our family’s food philosophy has always been “made from scratch” as much as possible. We have always made mooncakes, noodles, nut butters, nut milks, breads and all kinds of baked goods, sauces and meals from scratch. We enjoy the process. In our café we use imported ingredients such as French and Japanese flour (depending on the bread or pastry), imported butter (usually from Australia or New Zealand) and French or Belgian chocolate
Priscilla
Locals who come here often feel like the café is a second home. These dedicated regulars come just to say hello to the staff and sometimes stay for hours talking about life. Those who come regularly say they like the atmosphere of the place. There is a sense of positivity and joy, something that is much needed in this ‘內卷’ intense ‘996’ environment where everyone is working as hard as they can, yet they still feel like they are not making any progress and instead ‘ curled up into a tighter and tighter ball.
It’s a fairly new cafe, opened for about a year. Located in an art district of Kunming, the environment is indeed warm, inviting and pleasant. At weekends, the café sometimes hosts events to bring the community’s families together, such as a games night, ‘English Corner’ or family activities (e.g. ‘Daddy & Daughter Date Night’).
They recently expanded the cafe so now there is a lot more interior space. This allowed them to organize more community-oriented events on weekends.
Kardia Café Kunming China
Building 1, Shicui Folk Art Park, No. 14, Jindingshan North Road, Wuhua District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan
Reference By: tinyurbankitchen.com
