Special kids become chefs: the inclusive gastronomy "Noi Altri" inaugurated in Cagliari

They were all ready at the entrance to the venue for the inauguration, with the smile of those who know that that ribbon cutting is only the first step towards many satisfactions and an increasingly independent life. But the wait is finally over. Today at 6pm in Cagliari , in via Pergolesi , the project of the first inclusive gastronomy in Sardinia took off: "Noi Altri" , with the special children of the day center in via Paolo IX in Assemini . The new adventure comes after a year of work and commitment, dealing with the numerous cooking workshops which saw the guests of the structure managed by the social cooperative "Controvento" as protagonists. And the results were so surprising that, at the end of the training, the idea was born to create an opportunity to put what they had learned to use.

What will welcome new diners from this evening is a full-fledged entrepreneurial activity. And the young people, with the new uniforms and chef hats - dividing the tasks between the dining room and the kitchen - will have to face an important challenge: to try their hand at an inclusive menu every week to be prepared in two kitchens, to satisfy everyone's palate. From vegetarian to gluten-free recipes. And much more.

«The idea is to guarantee disabled people the recovery and development of autonomy – explains William Salis, president of Controvento -. They often suffer from social marginalization and are out of school. So it is difficult to live a normal life of social relationships. Noi Altri serves precisely for this reason: it embraces them and accompanies them on a new path, with which they have the opportunity to express themselves at their best."

Chefs and waiters in the gastronomy are semi-autonomous. With them is the president of the project, Valentina Meloni , for whom «we are not facing an arrival point but we want to believe in it. When we saw that there were kids in the group who could work, we thought of this project." Even the logo recalls the leitmotif of the cooperative: the symbol of the Sardinian pintadera was chosen «which recalls the embrace – underlines Salis –, the same one that welcomes our kids every day».

(Unioneonline/vf)