La Résidence

When it comes to defending a cause that they hold dear, the team behind the Refugee Food Festival is always up for a challenge. Calling itself a “culinary and solidarity project,” the team’s mission is to change the way people see refugees through the power of cooking. At La Résidence, this objective is coupled with a forward-looking initiative envisioned to accelerate the integration of refugees in the restaurant industry. Located within the multipurpose Ground Control venue in Paris’s 12th arrondissement, La Résidence food stand is run entirely by refugees, serving as a springboard for those hoping to make their mark on the French culinary scene. For the founders of La Résidence, the act of cooking and sharing food makes it possible to look past the “refugee” label, highlighting an individual’s culinary and cultural identity rather than their social status or the political situation in their country of origin. The team’s social engagement extends to La Résidence’s eco-friendly practices, from composting organic waste to working with a local organization to distribute meals to those in need.