When cooking becomes a common language: a look back at our Refugee Food Festival lunch
Last Monday, Laïa Monceau had the pleasure of participating in the 11th edition of the Refugee Food Festival by hosting a lunch co-created by our executive chef Fanny Herpin and Komi Ali, a Sudanese chef supported by the Refugee Food Residency.
For over ten years, the Refugee Food Festival has brought together restaurateurs, chefs, and diners around a simple idea: creating connection through food. Across France, refugee cooks and local chefs collaborate to design unique menus that celebrate individual journeys, cultures, and the spirit of sharing.
For this edition, Fanny and Komi designed a menu inspired by Sudanese flavors, featuring roasted eggplant glazed with peanut, marinated chicken breast with a ginger and mint tamarind jus, and a Laïamissou revisited with baobab cream.
.jpg)
Beyond the plate, this lunch was above all an opportunity to tell a story. That of Komi, who arrived in France in 2017 after working as a translator in Sudan, before turning to fine dining and joining the Refugee Food Residency.
At FUGA, we deeply believe that the table is a place for connection. A place where we discover not only new flavors, but also new life stories, cultures, and perspectives. Thank you to the Refugee Food Festival for their trust, to Komi for his talent and generosity, and to Fanny and the Laïa Monceau teams. Because around a table, borders often fade faster than one might imagine.
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
