A famous chef feeds the homeless

Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura is opening two new restaurants in Paris and Naples that are solely dedicated to the people who need them the most. In a huge contrast from his other establishments – which charge around €250 per head – the new eateries will feed about 100 people a day using leftovers from supermarkets. Instead of the food going to waste, it is made into hearty meals for predominantly homeless people. The first of these restaurants was opened in Milan. It is housed in an old theatre on the outskirts of the city that has been converted into a comfortable place to eat. In addition to providing good food, the project also gives their clients a much-needed sense of dignity and respect. There is no queuing on line as is the case in most of these types of establishments – guests are served at their tables by a team of attentive waiters.
The project was born in 2015 when Massimo started reusing leftovers from the eateries of Milan’s international Expo. With the support of the church foundation Caritas Ambrosiana, the initiative has blossomed into a permanent project. Massimo says that converting the leftover food into delicious meals is a great challenge for him and his other chefs. “I look at bread crumbs, some overripe tomatoes, brown bananas, and I see opportunities for us to show what we can do with our creativity.”