Réfectoire solidaire
It’s in Geneva’s Charmilles district that the Italian chef is once again putting down his knives. In the heart of a brand-new building, Walter El-Nagar has finally found a culinary showcase that will enable him to feed those most in need on a daily basis. Despite numerous obstacles and moments of doubt, the chef, with his politically and socially committed ideals, has finally achieved his goal of opening his solidarity restaurant. With a health crisis that reflects the importance of the project, the Refettorio Geneva is unfortunately more topical than ever. Spotlight on an extraordinary establishment by an extraordinary chef in extraordinary times.
Mater Fondazione
Professional crisis
The appointment is made in a nearby office. The atmosphere is start-up! Ideas are flowing, progress sketches are plastered on the walls and cups of hot coffee made from recycled paper are piling up on the tables. With his transalpine charisma and legendary provocative airs, Walter El Nagar enters the scene, determined, unflappable and taking up no more space than necessary. Alongside director Romain Bortolotti and resident chef Luis Sa, he shares stories of an adventure about to come to fruition. The former chef at Fiskebar – the Nordic-inspired restaurant at the Ritz Carlton in Geneva – seems to be on a roll. more level-headed, more thoughtful, but his investment in this noble project is such that he can’t stand still.
“My professional crisis didn’t start yesterday,” says the chef from the outset. As soon as he arrived on the shores of Lake Geneva, his creativity, originality and technical skills were put to the test. The mayonnaise didn’t take, and the chef’s desire for independence quickly became apparent. Refettorio Geneva stems directly from the experimental concept of his micro-restaurant Le Cinquième Jour. “This gastronomic-social counter was a provocative statement of culinary freedom. Without it, today’s restaurant would probably never have seen the light of day,” says the founder. In 2020, Walter took advantage of the pandemic to bring together a host of busy cooks to prepare hundreds of meals in the Salvation Army kitchens. The adventure begins…
Mater Fondazione
Extra soul
Refettorio’s mission is simple: to share high-quality cuisine and a high-level gastronomic experience with everyone. Through the Mater Foundation – which runs both a community kitchen and a gourmet restaurant in collaboration with Food For Soul – Refettorio Geneva offers five paid meal services in order to finance five free dinners for anyone in need. “All this is done in partnership with humanitarian organizations based in Geneva,” explains Walter El-Nagar.
With cultural and sustainable initiatives, this solidarity action doesn’t stop there. The aim of the refectory is to recover surplus food from supermarkets and local producers, and use it to prepare complete, balanced meals for people in precarious situations. In addition to providing excellent, dignified hospitality in a setting where gastronomy, art and design coexist in harmony, the project also includes training by a team of renowned chefs. At the same time, the space will become a springboard for integration, offering professional opportunities to people seeking employment.
The icing on the cake: the facility will be continually enlivened by the presence of artists. “It’s a place of life, exchange and happiness for people who are unhappy. Every day, our job is to feed human beings. We don’t need to procrastinate for hours, we have a responsibility to society.
