Bellagio Residency: August 2023
Project: “Fulani Kitchen Foundation”
Fatmata Binta is an award-winning modern-day nomadic chef connected to the biggest Nomadic group in West and Central Africa. Her work with the Fulani people has earned her multiple awards, including the 2022 Basque Nobel Culinary World Prize, the most prestigious Award in the culinary world. Fatmata was also designated in 2023 as a United Nations ambassador for Responsible Tourism at UNWTO with the goal of promoting gastronomy tourism for the benefit of rural communities and becoming more self-sustainable. Fatmata is the Executive Chef at Dine on a Mat, a nomadic restaurant, and the Founder of the Fulani Kitchen Foundation, which aims to improve food security for rural communities, increase productivity through efficient post-harvest processing, and raise the income levels of women farmers by providing employment opportunities. Fatmata visited Bellagio in August 2023 to further develop the Fulani Kitchen Foundation’s strategic plan.