Alice Delcourt has been honored with the 2026 Parabere Care Award. The prize, presented by Petra Molino Quaglia during the eleventh edition of the Parabere Forum in Barcelona, recognizes the value of a business management style that prioritizes team well-being and fair working conditions. Joining a prestigious hall of fame that includes icons such as Alice Waters and Monica Berg, the Milan-based chef has been identified by the international jury as a role model for her ability to combine gastronomic excellence with concrete, participatory social responsibility.
Within the Milanese gastronomic landscape, Delcourt has been a "voice outside the chorus" for over a decade. French-American by birth but deeply rooted in the Naviglio Pavese with her restaurant Erba Brusca, the chef has successfully transformed the "farm-to-table" concept from an aesthetic category into a pragmatic practice. Her cosmopolitan background—a blend of French technical rigor, American pragmatism, and Italian rural sensitivity—has allowed her to develop a plant-based cuisine that strikes a profound balance between biodiversity and formal purity.
Her true vocation lies in redefining leadership, proposing an inclusive business model where the well-being of the brigade (kitchen staff) is the prerequisite, rather than a byproduct, of excellence.
The award citation highlights a rare aspect in contemporary dining: Alice Delcourt does not simply manage her staff; she integrates them into the ownership structure. By offering company shares to key team members and adopting an inclusive decision-making style, this approach not only improves the work environment but also generates a significant impact on the local community and the creative process, making every team member an active part of the restaurant’s success.
About Parabere Forum Founded in 2014, Parabere Forum is an independent, non-profit international platform that acts as a catalyst for female voices in the fields of gastronomy, agriculture, and nutrition. By engaging leaders from the political, academic, and civil society sectors, the Forum aims to foster social evolution toward greater equity and sustainability. Its mission is clear: for social progress to be real and solid, women must occupy their rightful place in global decision-making processes related to food.
