Massimo Bottura's Brain Child: Zero Waste Food
In the heart of Paris, within the iconic walls of L'église La Madeleine (church), a cultural initiative unfolds, seamlessly blending the realms of art and gastronomy to bring hope and joy to those in need. Refettorio Paris, under the dedicated leadership of Julien Beauhaire, has become a beacon of light for the vulnerable, offering not just nourishment for the body but also a feast for the soul. Twice a week, guest chefs, often with stars and renowned names such as Michel Bras, the Ritz team around Eugénie Beziat and Jér?me Legras, Romain Meder, Boris Campanella from the H?tel de Crillon, Manon Fleury, Guillaume Smagghe from the H?tel Bulgari, Amaury Bouhours from the H?tel Meurice, Alessandra Montagne, and many Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (MOF), craft a 5-course menu with the help of two Refettorio chefs, alongside numerous artists, starting with JR, the violinist Gautier Capu?on, the magician Gus, dancers from Damien Jalet’s troupe, the Chamber Orchestra of Paris, and many classical, jazz, and pop musicians.
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Beauty and goodness come together even more concretely twice a week: first with afternoon tea around workshops such as initiations to pictorial art, theater, and music, especially for children, and also with off-site visits to the major museums and theaters in Paris. The meeting between the world of academic art and that of gastronomy finally takes place in the kitchens with the creation of dedicated menus linked to artistic visits. The volunteers, nearly 600 active in 2023, continue our unconditional welcome with ever higher service standards in the face of the increasing number of people in precarious situations – homeless, in exile, students. The Food for Soul model is open source and often inspires replication. Let it be!
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