It is not often that one gets to speak to a Chef often considered among the best in the world. And speaking to Chef Massimo Bottura at The Leela Palace Bengaluru’s Library Bar, was a great experience also because he is a wonderfully amiable person.
Here are some questions I asked that he patiently answered.
You have said that your dishes are the answers to the questions, and the theme for your restaurant is ‘never stop questioning’; please tell us more.
We are planning many things to celebrate our 30th anniversary. One of the things my wife has planned is to look back at these 30 years and pick 12 questions that you could ask yourself. And I did with my food, plates, and recipes, and step by step, every first of the month we open reservations for the next six months but also answer these questions. This is very important, as these are about life in general. When you ask questions, there is doubt, and what you have achieved is in the past. To think about the next one, you must ask questions and have doubts to think about the future.
Tell us about your work as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and founder of the non-profit organisation Food for Soul.
From September 2024, I have been nominated as one of the 15 leading advocates from the UNEP, and it is a big step from being an ambassador. Our project is all about ensuring we reduce food waste and ensure social inclusivity. We waste 33 per cent of what we produce, and now there is a big improvement over the last 10 years.
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