The Swiss city of Geneva is the first in Europe to enshrine the right to food in its constitution, and Chef Walter El Nagar is proud to have contributed to making it happen.
The son of an Egyptian father and Italian mother who were both restaurateurs grew up in kitchens before striking out on his own, run restaurants from LA to Singapore. These days, though, he’s best known for Refettorio Geneva, a fine dining experience “for everybody”, as its website says. And that means irrespective of income.
The concept is simple, yet groundbreaking: The restaurant is open for lunch to the paying public, while evening meals are served free of charge to people who may struggle to secure a healthy meal. This includes low-income workers, single parents, refugees and people experience homelessness, to name a few.
“Coming to a high-end restaurant is about much more than just being fed – It’s about being treated with the dignity they deserve as a person,” says Walter. “Someone smiles at them, serves them, welcomes them.”
Besides great food, there is good music, good drinks and nice china, he says, and the setting is cozy.
In 2023 alone, Refettorio served more than 8 500 meals in their restaurant. The team also distributed more than 2 000 meals in the community.
Besides social inclusion, the restaurant applies zero-waste principles and provides training to aspiring chefs, including people struggling to find work. It runs under the umbrella of Mater Foundation, which Walter founded in 2020 to have a broader impact in the community and beyond.
“Our goal is to become a catalyst for change, advocating for sustainable practices in food systems, environmental policies, and social welfare,” Walter explains.
Ultimately, though, the goal is to get policies in place that eliminate the need for inclusive places like Refettorio, he says.
After successfully lobbying the city Government in Geneva with a Manifesto on the Right to Food, Walter and his fellow organizers have set their sights on the European Union.
Through the European Citizen Initiative, Walter now wants to propose legislation that would make the Right to Food part of the EU Constitution. For the initiative to be considered, he has to gather a million signatories, and gather support from citizens, political parties, and parliamentarians across member states.
“By working with policymakers, environmental groups and community leaders, [we] can help tackle issues like food waste and hunger at their source,” he says.
