The Best Chef Rising Star Award – Jessica Rosval

Jessica Rosval is head chef at Casa Maria Luigia, the luxury guesthouse by Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore, set in the Emilian countryside. She strives to create positive social change as the co-founder and culinary director at a non-profit called the Association for the Integration of Women.

Rosval teaches migrant women how to cook professionally, preparing them for a future in the restaurant industry. She starts with the basics of Italian and Modenese cuisine, but without forgetting the origins of the trainees and celebrating their cultures.

Social and environmental is essential for Jessica Rosval. She believes restaurants can contribute in more ways than one might think. As chefs we have the opportunity to promote good working conditions, race and gender equality, building strong communities, fighting food waste and protecting water and soil, these are the possibilities in gastronomy Rosval points out.

“By being creative, by keeping our minds open and starting the conversation, all of these different goals can really bring a lot of changes into our kitchens and our communities .”