Lutetia Interview

Hi everyone, to those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet, I’m Amber, the Member Relations and External Affairs Manager for the French Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. Born in Taiwan, my love for good food is ingrained in my DNA, and I always took the wide-ranging variety of cuisines in Taipei for granted until I started travelling abroad more often.

We all know that we in Taipei are lucky to have a taste of the world’s best foods at our fingertips, but wouldn’t it be nice if you had a directory to the best French food and wines? That’s what our new series BonBon 飽飽  will bring to you, so there’s no more endless Google Map pins or saved Instagram reels that you have to look through. Even better, we will do a deep dive with the owners, so you get a real behind the scenes understanding with who you are shopping and dining with.

To start our series, we will go right to the source of my inspiration, Lutetia, a lively cafe situated in the heart of Tianmu, whose owners Fim and Brenda have taken over this long established institution in 2024. With my Taiwanese - Australian background, community and supporting locals are core values instilled in me, and at Lutetia, both shine through. As Fim showed us around his cafe and the main bakery across the street, locals stopped to chat to him, and he affectionately returned their enthusiasm and reminded them to stay safe on the roads. What then struck me the most was the difference in Lutetia’s approach in showcasing their French identity. Unlike other country-inspired cafes, there are no French flags to be found in Lutetia, Fim is proud to have his customers discover their authenticity through products that truly showcase the essence of France.

I interviewed Fim to get a better understanding of Lutetia, currently open in Tianmu with two other locations at the Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center and Cheng Hsin General Hospital, you will soon be able to enjoy Lutetia downtown in Dongmen as well. Fim also offers us great insights to foreigners looking to start their own business in Taiwan.

大家好，還沒有機會認識的朋友們，我是Amber，法國工商會的會員關係及外務經理。在台灣出生的我，對美食的熱愛早已刻在我的DNA。台北的美食選擇應有盡有，在台北即可嘗遍世界各地的美食，曾經我覺得這一切都理所當然，直到旅遊經歷愈來愈豐富，才發現並不是每個地方都跟台北一樣，有豐富又道地的異國美食。我們隨處可見的美食，是身在台灣的小確幸。

身在台北，世界各地的美味幾乎觸手可及，但如果有一份口袋名單，幫你直接挖出最道地的法式美食和美酒呢？這就是「BonBon飽飽」要做的事! 讓你不用再瘋狂存Google地圖釘選、也不用再IG限動慢慢找。而且我們會直接帶你和店主聊聊，讓你在吃之前、買之前，先認識這些店背後的人和故事。

作為系列的開場，我們直接從啟發我靈感的源頭出發 —— Lutetia（露特西亞），一間位於天母、充滿活力的咖啡館，由老闆Fim與Brenda在2024年接手經營這個歷史悠久的品牌。身為台澳混血的我，「社區情感」與「支持在地」一直是深植在我心中的核心價值，而這兩點在Lutetia身上展現得淋漓盡致。當Fim帶我們參觀他的咖啡館和對面的中央烘焙坊時,街坊鄰居們紛紛停下來跟他寒暄,他也親切地回應大家的熱情,還不忘提醒他們騎車、走路要注意安全。而真正讓我印象深刻的，是Lutetia展現法國特色的方式與眾不同。不像其他以異國風情為主打的咖啡館，Lutetia裡找不到任何一面法國國旗，Fim更希望讓顧客透過真正能展現法國精髓的產品，自己去發掘那份道地。

我採訪了Fim，深入了解Lutetia: 目前他們在天母設有門市，另外兩個據點分別位於台灣戲曲中心與振興醫院，而不久之後，大家也將能在東門享用到Lutetia。Fim也為想在台灣創業的外國朋友們，提供了不少寶貴的建議。

Can you tell us about Lutetia, its evolution, and the people behind it?

Lutetia was founded in 2008 when Cédric, the previous owner, took over a small corner café in Tianmu from another French entrepreneur. By the time my wife Brenda and I acquired the business in April 2024, it had grown far beyond its original concept. In addition to the main café, Lutetia included a bakery, pastry shop, imported grocery section, a sales point inside Mia C’Bon, a partnership with Carrefour, and a central bakehouse, all based in Tianmu.

Today, around 55 people are part of the Lutetia team: bakers, pastry chefs, baristas, and front-of-house staff. What unites them is the “Lutetia spirit” : a shared commitment to bringing the experience of a French neighbourhood café to our customers in Taipei.

可以和我們聊聊Lutetia的故事、演變過程，以及背後的團隊嗎？

Lutetia在2008年由前任老闆Cédric創立，他從另一位法國創業者手中，接下了天母一間小小的轉角咖啡館。到了2024年4月，我和我太太Brenda接手時，這個品牌的規模早已遠遠超越最初的構想。在Lutetia天母門市裡面除了咖啡店之外，現場還包含麵包區、甜點區、進口食材區，應有盡有。除了這些我們也有跟其他的店鋪合作，我們在Mia C'Bon裡還有一個銷售據點、也與家樂福的合作，以及一個位於天母的中央烘焙坊每天供應最新鮮的麵包。

如今，Lutetia團隊大約有55位成員：麵包師、甜點師、咖啡師，還有外場人員。大家共同擁有的是一種「Lutetia精神」:一份共同的承諾，要把法式社區咖啡館的氛圍，帶給我們在台北的顧客。

What convinced you and Brenda to take over this institution?

It was time for us to have our own business. Acquiring an existing company felt like the safer route, regardless of the industry, as long as I could make good use of my skills. That said, the acquisition process in Taiwan is rather opaque and can be challenging to navigate.

It probably all began when I got into making sourdough bread. I wanted to provide my daughters with proper French bread, free from additives. What started as an obsessive hobby gradually became a business project. Brenda and I were developing a deli concept in Kaohsiung, and Lutetia was an inspiration.

As a regular customer, I saw Lutetia as a true community hub. Having known Cédric for years, we often discussed our respective challenges. He was considering his next chapter while we were preparing ours, and the idea of a takeover emerged very naturally.

是什麼讓你和Brenda決定接手這間店？

說真的，就是覺得時機到了，該擁有自己的事業。不管是哪個產業，收購一間已經有基礎的公司感覺起來踏實多了——只要能發揮自己的專長，產業反而不是重點。不過在台灣，企業收購的流程其實相當不透明，要走過這個過程並不容易。

故事大概要從我開始做酸種麵包說起。我想給女兒們吃到不含添加物的真正法式麵包。一開始只是個近乎執著的興趣，後來漸漸變成一個創業計畫。當時我和Brenda正在高雄籌備一個熟食店的概念，而Lutetia正是我們的靈感來源之一。

身為Lutetia的老顧客，我一直把它視為一個真正的社區據點。我和Cédric已經認識多年，也常常聊到彼此各自面臨的挑戰。他當時正在思考自己的下一步，而我們也正在籌備自己的計畫，於是「接手」這個想法，就很自然地浮現了。

What differentiates Lutetia from other cafés or bakery brands?

Lutetia is about more than bread, croissants, and coffee: it is about art de vivre. We aim to recreate the feeling of the village café: a welcoming place where people slow down, enjoy handcrafted products, and build genuine connections.

In a world increasingly shaped by remote work and online interactions, we believe people value authentic, in-person experiences more than ever. While our products and branding continue to evolve, that core mission remains unchanged.

For example, we embraced the third-wave coffee movement by replacing our traditional French roast blend with specialty coffee roasted in-house. Selecting and roasting our own beans gives us the same level of control and craftsmanship that we apply to our bread and pastries.

Lutetia與其他咖啡館或烘焙品牌有什麼不同之處？

Lutetia不只是麵包、可頌和咖啡，它代表的是一種「生活的藝術」（art de vivre）。我們想重新打造法國小村莊咖啡館的那種氛圍: 一個讓人放慢腳步、享受手工製作的產品、並建立真實連結的地方。

在這個遠距工作與線上互動越來越普遍的世界裡，我們相信人們其實比以往更重視真實的、面對面的體驗。雖然我們的產品和品牌形象一直在演進，但這個核心使命始終沒有改變。

像是這幾年很紅的第三波咖啡浪潮，我們也跟上了，把傳統的法式烘焙配方換成自家烘焙的精品咖啡。親自挑選和烘焙咖啡豆，讓我們能用做麵包和甜點時的同等用心與工藝來把關咖啡品質。

You also mentioned that the French identity of Lutetia should be conveyed naturally. How do you do that and why?

When the first French bakeries and pâtisseries opened in Taiwan, Lutetia included, many relied on familiar French symbols and stereotypes to distinguish themselves. The market has evolved significantly since then. Customers today are more knowledgeable, many have travelled to France, and their expectations are higher.

While we adapt to local preferences where it makes sense, I do not believe French identity needs to be expressed through flags or Eiffel Tower decorations. Our products, service, and atmosphere should speak for themselves.

As French businesses, we also have a responsibility to help shape that evolution. Authenticity is ultimately more meaningful and sustainable than relying on clichés.

你也提過，Lutetia的法式身份應該以自然的方式呈現。可以聊聊怎麼做、為什麼這麼做嗎？

當第一批法式麵包店和甜點店在台灣開業時，包括Lutetia在內，許多店家都依賴大家熟悉的法國形象和刻板印象來凸顯自己的特色。但市場從那時起已經有很大的轉變。現在的顧客更懂了，許多人也去過法國，對品質的期待自然更高。

雖然我們會在合理的範圍內因應在地的喜好做調整，但我並不認為法式身份一定要靠國旗或艾菲爾鐵塔裝飾來表現。我們更想讓產品、服務和氛圍自己說話。

作為法國品牌，我們也有責任去推動這種轉變。比起依賴刻板印象，「真實」終究更有意義，也更能長久走下去。

During our visit, you talked about how Lutetia engages with the local community. Tell us more about it.

Community involvement has always been part of the “Lutetia spirit.” We continue to support initiatives related to art, sports, education, and charity.
We regularly host art exhibitions at our Chuanyi café and have organized yoga classes and workshops. In June, we will welcome a science workshop run by children for children. We are also preparing a running event with a French sports brand and hope to field a Lutetia team at the next Spartan Race.

Beyond events, we partner with retirement homes and an orphanage so that our surplus products benefit those in need. We also support “Being Present Youth Support”, an NGO that seeks to foster sustainable development in a village in Alishan by creating employment and growth opportunities for local young people. Community support can also take simpler forms, whether it's helping a newly arrived family in Taipei find a dentist for their children or making phone calls in France to help a worried mother find a studio for her daughter.

你在我們參訪時提到，Lutetia如何與在地社區互動。可以多聊聊嗎？

社區參與一直是「Lutetia精神」的一部分。我們持續支持藝術、體育、教育和公益相關的各種活動。

我們經常在傳藝門市舉辦藝術展覽，也辦過瑜珈課程和工作坊。六月，我們將迎接一場由小朋友主辦、為小朋友設計的科學工作坊。我們也正在和一個法國運動品牌籌備一場路跑活動，希望能組一支Lutetia隊伍參加下一屆的斯巴達障礙跑競賽（Spartan Race） 。

除了活動之外，我們也與養老院和一間孤兒院合作，讓我們多餘的產品能幫助到需要的人。我們同時支持「Being Present Youth Support（成為在場青年支持）」，這是一個致力於在阿里山一個村落推動永續發展的NGO，透過創造就業與成長機會來幫助當地的年輕人。社區支持也可以是更簡單的形式，比如幫助剛搬到台北的家庭找到適合孩子的牙醫；又或者有一次，一位法國媽媽很擔心獨自在台灣的女兒，我們就主動打電話回法國，幫忙聯繫、找到了一間合適的套房，讓她安心不少。

Tell us about the projects you’ve been working on and your strategy.

Our first priority was improving team retention and strengthening company culture. Without a committed team, nothing else is possible.
We streamlined processes and logistics, shortened product shelf lives to guarantee freshness, and developed new partnerships. We also upgraded ingredients wherever they meaningfully improved quality.

Another major project was relocating our bakers and pastry chefs to a larger, better-equipped production facility with higher quality standards. While many of these changes are not immediately visible, customers can feel the difference. The renovation and reopening of our flagship café last year marked the beginning of this transformation.

Our current focus is relocating the Chuanyi café to Yongkang Street, with an opening planned for late August or early September. While personal interactions remain at the heart of what we do, we are also investing in our digital communication strategy to engage more effectively with our customers online.

可以聊聊你最近在進行的計畫，以及你們的策略方向嗎？

我們一開始最先想解決的，是團隊的留任率，還有公司文化的凝聚力——畢竟團隊不穩，其他什麼都很難談下去。

我們簡化了流程和物流，縮短了產品的保存期限以確保新鮮度，也開發了新的合作夥伴關係。同時，我們也在能明顯提升品質的地方升級了食材。

另一個重要的計畫，是把我們的麵包師和甜點師團隊搬到一個更大、設備更完善、標準更高的生產基地。雖然很多改變不是顧客一眼就能看到的，但他們可以感受到差異。去年旗艦店的整修與重新開幕，正是這場轉型的開端。

目前，我們的重點是把傳藝門市搬到永康街，預計在八月底或九月初開幕。雖然面對面的交流始終是我們的核心，但我們也在投入線上行銷策略，希望能更有效地在線上與顧客互動。

As a foreigner in Taiwan, what challenges have you faced, and what advice would you offer other entrepreneurs?

I would not have undertaken this project without my wife and business partner. Beyond navigating Taiwan’s administrative and legal environment, intercultural management is something we deal with every day.

After 17 years in Taiwan, working across Asia and speaking Chinese both at home and at work, I still see major differences in how French and Taiwanese teams communicate, manage service, and approach hospitality. Brenda plays a key role in bridging those differences, and our skills complement each other well.

My advice would be to surround yourself with people who can help bridge cultural gaps. At the same time, your own cultural background is an asset. Success often comes from knowing what to adapt and what not to compromise on.

身為在台灣的外國人，你遇過哪些挑戰？對其他創業者有什麼建議？

如果沒有太太、同時也是我的事業夥伴Brenda，我不可能完成這個計畫。除了要面對台灣的行政與法律環境之外，跨文化的管理也是我們每天都要面對的課題。

在台灣生活了17年，工作足跡遍及亞洲，而且在家和工作上都說中文，但我仍然能感受到法國團隊和台灣團隊在溝通方式、服務管理、待客之道上的明顯差異。Brenda在協調這些差異上扮演了關鍵角色，我們的能力恰好能互補。

我的建議是，找到能幫你跨越文化差異的人，把他們留在身邊。同時，你自己的文化背景其實也是一種資產。成功往往來自於知道什麼該調整、什麼不該妥協。

Lastly, can you tell us what are your favourite items on the menu?

The perfect day at Lutetia starts with a Parisian breakfast, followed by a comforting croque-monsieur made with homemade ham and Comté for lunch. In the afternoon, I would choose a slice of flan with a pour-over coffee, and for dinner, a gratin dauphinois with sausage and a glass of wine.

We are open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., so whether you stop by for breakfast, lunch, coffee, or dinner, there is always something worth discovering.

最後，可以告訴我們你在菜單上最喜歡的品項嗎？

理想的一天，從Lutetia的巴黎式早餐展開，午餐來一份用自製火腿和Comté起司做的暖心法式火腿三明治（croque-monsieur）。下午，我會選一片法式布丁塔（flan）配手沖咖啡，晚餐則是來一份多菲內焗烤馬鈴薯（gratin dauphinois），配香腸和一杯紅酒。

我們每天從早上7點營業到晚上8點，所以無論你是想來吃早餐、午餐、下午茶喝咖啡，還是吃晚餐，這裡永遠都有值得發現的美味。