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The pioneer of vegetarian cuisine in Europe, who was already awarded a Michelin star in 1996 for his restaurant Joia in Milan, has chosen the Centovalli for a new chapter in his life. Today, Pietro Leemann is pursuing a project that unites cuisine, nature and spirituality: the Ecovillage Sanctuary in Bordei – a place to meet, reflect and experiment, where sustainability and authentic human relationships take centre stage.
In Bordei, this creative process remains unchanged. Each dish arises from a fusion of technical expertise and personal introspection. “Cooking is an artistic and spiritual act,” he explains. “Whoever creates a dish leaves a piece of themselves in it. Whoever eats it can feel that.”
Since the very beginning, Leemann’s culinary research has been guided by a profound reflection on the meaning of nourishment. “What we eat is what we are,” he says, firmly convinced that food can influence not only physical but also mental and spiritual wellbeing.
In Bordei, this philosophy takes shape through dishes prepared with organic, seasonal ingredients – from the village garden and local farmers. The cuisine thus becomes an ethical and communal act: every ingredient tells a story of respect for the environment and for animals.
But Bordei is not only a gastronomic project. The Ecovillage Sanctuary is a non-profit foundation that hosts a dozen permanent residents, volunteers who stay for several months, as well as a monastery in Terra Vecchia. It is an ecumenical community, open to all cultures, where cuisine becomes the common thread for paths of friendship, spirituality and exchange.
In addition to cuisine, the village offers seminars and workshops on yoga, meditation, permaculture, organic gardening, craftsmanship, as well as cultural and spiritual events. These are designed to involve residents, volunteers and visitors in a process of personal and communal growth.
The organic vegetable garden and collaboration with local farmers ensure a fully sustainable supply that respects nature and animals. For Leemann, cooking remains the highest form of personal expression: each dish arises from a fusion of technique, introspection and the desire to convey a message.
In Bordei, the dining table becomes a place for connection and dialogue. “Eating together is a sacred act,” says Leemann. “It is the moment when we truly come closer to others, because we are closer to ourselves.” Even though his life no longer revolves around a Michelin-starred restaurant, the essence of his work remains unchanged: offering wellbeing to others through food.
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