Why Hospitality Is Important

Sharing a meal around a table is a simple gesture that can help people to connect and communicate.

The thirteen oak tables at Refettorio Ambrosiano were each made by a different designer following the principles of a convent table: solid, stable and suitable for at least eight guests.

But the most important thing is that they are designed so that nobody can seat at the head of the table, making guests feel welcome and included.

The three, long, Refettorio-style tables - designed by Mimmo Paladino and realised by local Neapolitan artisans - are made of wood and engraved with symbols.

"The social part of the experience is almost therapeutic - for guests, volunteers and chefs. It creates a convivial atmosphere that helps to rebuild dignity, all around the act of eating a meal.” - Massimo Bottura.

“It’s definitely more what they give to me. It is an experience that truly changes you, that makes you feel useful and makes you want to never stop." Carlo “White”, restless volunteer at the Refettorio Ambrosiano.

“What all volunteers share, regardless of their location, is the Value Of Hospitality."
Volunteers from Refettorio Ambrosiano flew to Paris to meet guests and volunteers at Refettorio Paris.

Every gesture has value, even grating a cloud of Parmesan cheese on a plate of pasta.

For the guests of Refettorio Made in Cloister in Naples pasta means home. And the more cheese you add, the better it is. For this reason, the day of the opening, the Neapolitan chefs who came to cook decided to serve maccheroni with tomato sauce, basil and Parmesan cheese...just like we would do at home.

The simple gesture of decorating tables with fresh flowers, gives people a sense of warmth and belonging that helps them to relax and enjoy the moment.

Shops and vendors donate their unsold flowers to the Refettorios' staff and volunteers who arrange them around the dining hall to welcome their guests. It’s the small gestures that speak the loudest.

The vendors at Modena’s historic market, Mercato Albinelli, every Saturday and Monday morning donate their surplus produce to the Refettorio Ghirlandina helping to offer guests the opportunity to enjoy a nutritious dinner while advocating for a healthier and more sustainable food system.

At Refettorio Antoniano, Alberto - a talented volunteer - hand-draws the menu for the families with children who come to eat at the Monday evening service, turning his talent into an act of beauty and every meal into a special occasion.

The guest chef who made it knew that the pleasure of sitting around the same table isn’t just about eating, but about sharing, so that evening the guests at the Refettorio were given the chance to assemble their own meal: Chicken skewers, first dipped in a bowl of sauce and then in a bowl of crushed popcorn, both placed on each table.

“The beautiful thing is that in a Refettorio, everyone is equal: guests, guest chefs, staff, everyone - all the prejudices are left at the entrance because in our Refettorio what really matters is how we welcome people, the service, the dishes, everything”. Maxime, resident chef at Refettorio Paris

“The staff of the Antoniano and Food for Soul saved my life.” Now regular chef at Refettorio Antoniano, Johnny himself was once a guest of the project.

The Refugee Food Festival is an annual initiative that allows restaurants and organizations to open their kitchens to refugee chefs. Joining the week-long celebration, Refettorio Felix welcomed with open arms Nigerian chef Chineze, who cooked a three-course menu for the guests of the Refettorio.

«When the story of life is embodied in a dish, then that is the story of freedom». Dish by Mohammad Elkhaldy, refugee guest chef at Refettorio Paris. The nest represents his home and the bird freedom.

Refettorio Felix in London is a culturally vibrant space, where guests can feel free to express themselves with different activities - play cards, read, watch movies, do yoga - and discover new talents, such as through art classes and professional training courses.

Refettorio Antoniano in Bologna is not only a place to eat, but also a space for children and their families to spend time together and play - every Monday night, families with children in situations of social vulnerability sit together to enjoy a nourishing dinner.

A corner with toys is available for children to play and the volunteers laugh and joke with the guests while serving them dinner.

“Today for the first time I sat at a table laden with food, I felt like a real Neapolitan.” - Guest at Refettorio Made in Cloister