“福岡の屋台”愛するフランス人シェフ　がん治療乗り越え夢実現　連日行列も閉店危機【知ってもっと】【グッド！モーニング】(2026年5月6日)

In Hakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, there's a food stall with an endless line of customers. The owner is a Frenchman who speaks fluent Japanese and brings smiles to many faces. We interviewed this man who deeply loves Japanese food stall culture. ■A Secret Behind the Stall Remy Grenard (49) "(Q. Thank you for today.) Thank you." Remy Grenard, a 49-year-old Frenchman, is the manager of "Remy's Place," a food stall specializing in French cuisine. Remy "(Q. How much does the stall weigh?) ​​About 1000 kilograms." In Fukuoka, food stalls can only operate in locations permitted by the city. He pulls his stall from the parking lot where it's kept outside of business hours to its "usual location." "I'd be happy if about 80 people came today." Fukuoka's food stalls are said to average around 45 customers a day. Despite the gloomy weather, Remy remains confident. It's about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot. We arrived at the Tenjin food stall street, one of Fukuoka's three major food stall areas, alongside Nakasu and Nagahama. Remi, with practiced hands, assembled the food stall. She says there's a "secret" to her precious home. "I made this (food stall) myself. If I had commissioned someone, it would have cost millions of yen. 3 million, 4 million yen." Incredibly, the food stall is handmade by Remi herself. "The roof broke, the counter broke, I'm constantly fixing it. So I have a lot of worries, but it has character, so it's okay." The food stall was completed in about 30 minutes from the start of setup. We spoke to people who were eagerly lining up. Tourist from Hokkaido: "I came from Hokkaido. I saw it on Instagram. It seems like there's a funny old man here." Tourist from Aichi Prefecture: "This is my first time (at a food stall). A French food stall? This is the only one like it, right?" ■ More than just the food Remi also begins the final preparations. Remi-san "My beer is perfectly chilled!" "(Q. So, will you have a drink after the stall closes...?) I've already had a drink. Don't worry, I won't be driving anymore. I love toasting with people." "Are you sure it's beer and white wine? If I'm wrong, I'll drink it. Oh, what a shame." "What is this?" Tourist from Hokkaido "Quiche" Remi-san "This is a kiss." The owner's puns are one of the charms of the stall. Remi-san "These are our very popular escargots!" Many customers were ordering the "escargots" grilled with special garlic butter. Remi-san "It rained a lot yesterday, so I took them from here (on the roof)." The price? A mere 900 yen. Other items like "pumpkin gnocchi" are 800 yen, and you can enjoy French cuisine at Remi-san's stall at very reasonable prices. Remi-san: "Things I can serve right away. And things that other stalls don't have. Because I want to chat with customers as soon as possible." Remi-san says that as a chef, she can't be satisfied unless everything is handmade. Remi-san: "Cheers! Cheers!! Cheers!!! Fifth drink!" "Photos 500 yen each." What she values ​​most is "once-in-a-lifetime encounters." Even when busy, she makes sure to entertain her customers. The following comments were heard from customers leaving the stall: Tourist from Wakayama: "It's like having a comedian; I was laughing the whole time I was eating, and the food was delicious, so I'm very satisfied." ■ Overcoming Cancer Treatment: Realizing a Dream Remi-san's stall has now become so popular that there's a two-hour wait. Why did she decide to run a stall in Fukuoka? Remi-san: "The first time I came to Fukuoka, it was a three-day trip. I thought, since I'm in Fukuoka, I have to eat ramen at a food stall, so I was eating ramen at a stall when suddenly everyone shouted, 'Wow!' I wondered why. Then I found out that the Hawks (league) had won the championship." In 1999, when the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, then professional baseball team, won the league championship, it was their first championship since relocating to Fukuoka, and the whole city was in a festive mood. Remi-san: "Exactly one year earlier, France had been hosting the FIFA World Cup. I really understood how they felt. We were having fun together even without words. 'Hawks,' 'Congratulations,' 'Cheers.' With just these three words, I was drinking with strangers until morning." Captivated by the energy of Fukuoka and its food stalls, Remi-san suddenly extended her planned three-day stay to three months. In 2001, she moved to Fukuoka to open her dream food stall, but at the age of 30, she was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Remi-san: "I got cancer before I could open my own shop. It was stage 4. I didn't know if I would survive." Even though it was stage 4 and had metastasized to her lungs, she didn't give up. Remi-san: "Even when I was hospitalized, I was incredibly positive. That's why the doctors were surprised. Everything cleared up in six months." She fought the disease with her own cheerful spirit and overcame it. However, there was another challenge before she could own her...