Massimo Bottura, the chef behind the world’s best restaurant – Osteria Francescana – will share his unique approach to traditional Italian cooking in his first-ever live show, which will tour four Australian cities in August.

Those who have yet to grab a seat at his three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Modena may remember Bottura from the pilot episode of the Netflix series Chef’s Table, where he introduced viewers to creations like “the crunchy part of the lasagne”, a tribute to the highly coveted corner slice of his nonna’s lasagne, and his clever dessert save “oops! I dropped the lemon tart”. Bottura also made an appearance as a guest chef on season seven of Australian MasterChef.

Held in association with Lateral Events, Massimo Bottura – Live on Stage, will follow the chef’s journey to greatness, from his lowest point – selling his beloved Harley-Davidson to keep the restaurant afloat – to taking out the top gong – number one spot on the San Pellegrino 50 Best Restaurants list in 2018. Veteran journalist Ray Martin will emcee the shows.

Over the course of each evening, Bottura will also discuss his new non-profit association, Food for Soul, which tackles food waste through the creation of ‘refettorio’ – beautifully designed spaces where migrants, refugees and the homeless are invited to enjoy the simple pleasures of a good meal.

“The difference between a soup kitchen and a refettorio is the value of hospitality,” says Bottura. “When you walk into a refettorio, the first thing you hear is ‘buongiorno, ben arrivati – how is everything? Are you okay? Please sit down and enjoy the food.’ Once they sit, we serve them a three- or four-course meal at the table. It’s a very different approach, and one that’s all about restoring dignity to the people.”

Refettorio currently exist in Milan, London, Rio de Janeiro and Paris, and Bottura hopes to bring the concept to Sydney one day.

Massimo Bottura: Live on Stage runs from August 6 to 13 and include stops in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. Tickets are available through Lateral Events, with options ranging from general admission through to VIP, which includes a meet and greet backstage.

See here to purchase tickets to Massimo’s first Australian show.