Main content

Coronavirus: Chefs fight back

Some of the world鈥檚 top restaurateurs are refusing to take lockdown lying down

Coronavirus has crippled the restaurant industry, leaving thousands of chefs fighting to save their businesses, but some have been using the crisis, and their own influence, to help and inspire others.

Massimo Bottura, one of the world鈥檚 most celebrated chefs, hasn鈥檛 been able to serve guests in his three-Michelin-star restaurant, Osteria Francescana, since early March. He tells Graihagh Jackson why, instead, he has been inviting the world into his home kitchen via Instagram every night during Italy鈥檚 long lockdown.

Deepanker Khosla, one of Thailand鈥檚 top young chefs, refused to close his kitchen when Bangkok鈥檚 eateries were forced to shut. He鈥檚 now using it to cook thousands of meals for the migrant workers who鈥檝e been left jobless and hungry by the pandemic.

And Ana Ro拧, chef at one of the world鈥檚 top 50 restaurants - Hi拧a Franko - has been creating new products to support her local farmers and suppliers, and is trying to use the crisis to reform Slovenia鈥檚 entire food industry.

If you'd like to get in touch with us please email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk

(Picture: Massimo Bottura, Ana Ro拧, and Deepanker Khosla handing out food to a woman in Bangkok. Credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan, Pablo Cuadra, Getty Images, Deepanker Khosla, 麻豆社)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 May 2020 00:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 30 Apr 2020 02:32GMT
  • Thu 30 Apr 2020 10:32GMT
  • Thu 30 Apr 2020 15:32GMT
  • Thu 30 Apr 2020 17:32GMT
  • Thu 30 Apr 2020 21:32GMT
  • Thu 30 Apr 2020 22:32GMT
  • Sun 3 May 2020 07:32GMT
  • Mon 4 May 2020 00:32GMT

Food Chain highlights

Tea, coffee, spices, chillies ... snack on a selection of programme highlights

Podcast