When fashion meets food

陕西 李红娟

COVA 是一家源自意大利的餐厅，借着意大利闻名于世的独特设计品位及高品质的手作工艺，COVA用浓浓的艺术气息制作着每一份精良的食物。

主题语境：美食与时尚 篇幅：352词 建议用时：7分钟

1Hu Xiaoyu, 37, is a big fan of the French luxury brand,Louis Vuitton.She is fascinated by everything related to it.So,when she learned that an Italian dessert restaurant named COVA Beijing near her workplace is owned by Louis Vuitton,she was thrilled.

2“I went there with my friend for afternoon tea.I ordered a tiramisu and a cup of cappuccino.The tiramisu impressed me.It melted in my mouth immediately,” said Hu.What impressed Hu most was the quiet and comfortable dining environment.“The walls of the store are made of glass and display their dessert products, such as chocolate and fancy tableware.All of them looked fancy,” she said.“Eating there made me feel that the distance between me and Louis Vuitton is not a luxury bag, but an afternoon tea.”

3Hu is not the only one purchasing luxury food in China.A lot of Chinese foodies are following suit.Many other luxury brands, such as Gucci, Prada and Hermes, have broken into the Chinese food industry in recent years, and the trend is growing.

4Patrizio Sacchetto, director of operations at COVA Beijing, said many luxury brands chose to break into the food business due to its popularization.Luxury brands can use their high-quality food, service and international vision to attract consumers.

5For Sacchetto, breaking into the food business can add variety and competition to the luxury brand sector as well as give access to the roughly 80 percent of people who would not normally be able to buy luxury goods.“China is an important market for us.Chinese young people are our target because they are open-minded and willing to try new things,”said Sacchetto.To broaden its consumer base in China, COVA Beijing opened a social media account onWeiboand built a website.

6“Now, our customers are able to buy our products online,” said Sacchetto.“We are planning to open more restaurants in Chengdu, Sichuan Province and Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in the future, and we will hire local people who know much more about China and Chinese.”

Reading Check

Detail 1.What impressed Hu Xiaoyu most at COVA Beijing?

A.The glass walls displaying dessert products.

B.The high-quality food and service.

C.The comfortable dining environment.

D.The popularization of luxury brands.

Detail2.What made many luxury brands choose to break into the food business?

A.The popularization of the food business.

B.The competition of luxury brands.

C.The desire for luxury goods for normal people.

D.The failure of some luxury brands.

Inference3.Why did COVA Beijing open a social media account onWeibo?

A.To attract more Chinese artists.

B.To compete with other luxury brands.

C.To promote its international vision.

D.To expand its consumer base.

Inference 4.What is Sacchetto's attitude towards the Chinese market?

A.Indifferent.

B.Optimistic.

C.Cautious.

D.Skeptical.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日积月累

thrilledadj.非常兴奋的

purchasev.购买

luxury brand 奢侈品牌

be related to 与……有关

follow suit 跟着做

break into 成功参与；顺利打入

luxury goods 奢侈品

be willing to do 愿意做……

Ⅱ.语法填空

This text mainly discusses the 1.________ (grow) trend of luxury brands entering the food industry in China.It highlights the case of COVA Beijing, an Italian dessert restaurant that is owned 2.________ the luxury brand, Louis Vuitton.The story begins by 3._________(introduce) Hu Xiaoyu, a fan of Louis Vuitton, 4.________ was excited to know about COVA Beijing's association with the brand.She 5.________ (visit) the restaurant and was impressed by the delicious tiramisu and the 6.________ (comfort) dining environment,7.________ made her feel closer to the luxury experience.

COVA Beijing is not the only luxury brand 8._________ (break) into the food business in China.Brands like Gucci, Prada and Hermes 9._________ (enter) this industry recently, too.Patrizio Sacchetto, director of operations at COVA Beijing, believes that luxury brands are attracted to the food business due 10._________ its popularity and the opportunity to attract a wider consumer base.