Massimo Bottura, the chef behind the lauded restaurant Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night to turn junk from the late show’s writers’ room kitchen into a three-course feast. This challenge is following in the same vein as the chef’s Refettorio project, which has spawned community soup kitchens around the world that turn food waste into tasty things to eat.
In the clip above, Bottura turns leftover bagels into a Mexican version of panzanella as an appetizer. The pasta course features pesto using some leftover herbs (and some of Bottura’s favorite cheese) plus toasted popcorn. And for dessert, the famous Italian chef makes sautéed black banana in an almond milk sauce, with Cheerio crumble and a scoop of leftover ice cream. “You make garbage taste so delicious,” Kimmel remarks.
Bottura’s latest book, Bread is Gold, focuses on cooking with food waste, and proceeds from its release will go to the Refettorio project. In the late night segment, the chef mention that he’s planning to open a soup kitchen in Paris next month, and an outpost in Naples this April.
Watch Bottura cook his way through the refuse from Kimmel writers’ room in the clip above.
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