Three Michelin stars for his ‘Osteria Francescana‘ restaurant in Modena, an Honorary Degree from the Academy of Fine Arts of Carrara, Massimo Bottura has been listed as one of ‘The 100 Most Influential people of 2019‘ by the Time magazine.
The cuisine artist describes culinary traditions as a legacy to be carried forward overcoming the past and gastronomy as the merging of ethics and aesthetics, a universal language that constitutes an opportunity of social justice. In fact, the n.1 chef in the world, with his ‘_Food For Sou_l’ project, created community kitchens (‘refettori’ in Italian) in Milan, San Paolo, London, Paris that spread the culture of food and creative cuisine as an act of social inclusion and as an instrument of environmental and social sustainability.
In these ‘refettori‘ people in need, refugees, and homeless are served creative meals similar to the ones found in his restaurants and created using food that would otherwise go to waste.
They are places where the guests are treated like anyone else, with respect and dignity. It’s a cultural project. Moreover, Bottura included works of art to embellish the ‘refettori’, in fact he believes that: “It is not only important for people in difficulty to find a place where to eat, but it is also important that it is a beautiful place, so that the meal is not charity, but a moment of inclusion.” But, not only he created made his dream come true organizing the first ‘refettorio’, he continues his mission encouraging other chefs and artists to join him.
Simona Gazzaniga