France is famous for food and fashion, but the French haven't always been friendly to foreigners. Even so, more and more refugees are coming to France, running from war or natural disasters▼. Two young, French businessmen, Louis Jacquot and Sebastien Prunier, were hoping to create jobs for these refugees. They believed that food could help locals learn to welcome these newcomers▼, so they decided to search for trained chefs among the refugees. In 2016, the pair set up Les Cuistots Migrateurs, which means the Migratory▼ Cooks in French. At first, the chefs cooked for private events. Recently, they found a new home at Le Petit Bain, a cultural center with a restaurant in central Paris. Because the place often has world music and art displays, Les Cuistots Migrateurs knew it would be a perfect fit. The chefs come from Syria, Iran, Chechnya, Sri Lanka, and other countries. At Le Petit Bain and private events, the foreign chefs are always on hand. When the locals meet the chefs, they learn that refugees aren't so different after all. The idea is spreading. Other cities in France, like Strasbourg, now hold refugee food festivals to change people's minds and give refugees jobs.
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