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The World's 50 Best Restaurants, in partnership with S.Pellegrino, has unveiled the three chef winners of its brand new Champions of Change initiative, celebrating local heroes in the hospitality sector who created change for good in their communities during the pandemic.
Chefs Kurt Evans in the US, Viviana Varese in Italy and Deepanker Khosla in Thailand, have all been named Champions of Change for their local social and humanitarian work during the pandemic, including ending mass incarceration, breaking down barriers around LGBTQ+ and inclusivity, and creating crucial employment opportunities for migrants.
A substantial donation will be made to each of the winners’ causes from the 50 Best for Recovery Fund, allowing each of the chefs to continue their projects and support future initiatives in the hospitality sector (see below for more).
"Their passion and fortitude in creating positive change in the hospitality sector is humbling and we can’t wait to see how they will use these donations to further their outstanding projects," said William Drew, director of content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Find out how each of the chefs will put the donation money to use below:
Viviana Varese
The Italian chef and campaigner from Michelin-starred Viva in Milan will use the Champions of Change donation to open a new gelateria in the city, which will provide employment opportunities to vulnerable women.
Photo Credit: Azzurra Primavera
Deepanker Khosla
Indian chef Khosla, from restaurant Haoma in Bangkok, will use the Champions of Change donation to create and staff a fully-fledged kitchen for the No One Hungry project, providing meals to thousands of people in need.
Kurt Evans
Evans will use the Champions of Change donation to help fund his 'End Mass Incarceration' dinner series, as well as to further the work 'Everybody Eats Philly', providing free meals and essentials to those in need.
Photo Credit: Marc Williams
