Brazilian Cookbook wins Gourmand World Cookbook Award

On March 03 in Paris the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards for 2010 were handed out, and a Brazilian cookbook took first place in the fundraising category. These prizes, awarded in 53 separate categories have, since 1995, honored the best cookbooks worldwide, in any language. This year there were entries from 154 separate countries competing for honors.

In the category of fundraising cookbooks, a social-inclusion project from São Paulo called Gastronomia Solidária won first place for their cookbook, entitled Gastronomia Solidária and published by Editora Melhoramentos. The book consists of recipes from many of São Paulo's best-known chefs and food professionals, and all profits from the book are to benefit the work of Gastronomia Solidária.

This group, based in the district of Perdizes in São Paulo works with unemployed and homeless people of the district, teaching them the social, technical and professional skills they need to leave the streets and gain a career in the restaurant industry. The chefs who contributed recipes to the book have all given classes or worked on a volunteer basis at Gastronomia Solidária. The group has had great success with their project, and through their efforts the people with whom they work have had an amazing success rate in reinventing their lives and leaving the streets.

The noble work of this group, as well as the book itself, were recognized by the committee that chose this year's awards. Congratulations to Gastronomia Solidária on their success in Paris, and on their continuing work in São Paulo.