Chef Remy Ruiz opened the doors to the Praline Cauldron — a French cafe of his own creation — for its first day last Friday morning. “Because I came to your country, I need to use your product.”Ruiz brings his French culinary heritage everywhere he goes, from Canada to the Caribbean, combining his traditions with local ingredients. For French Prof. Dominique Licops, who researches French culture, Evanston’s cultural melting pot is what makes the community so vibrant. Gallery • 5 Photos Lucas Kubovchik/The Daily Northwestern The cafe offers a variety of French pastries, including the almond croissant. To Weinberg freshman Maya Brusson, a born-and-raised Parisian, the experience was an authentic representation of French culture, she said.