Dan Giusti Left Noma to Reinvent American Public School Lunches

Dan Giusti was once head chef at one of the top-ranked restaurants in the world, but has now set his sights on an even more daunting challenge: fixing American public school lunches. After leaving Noma, the world-famous Copenhagen restaurant bearing two Michelin stars, Giusti founded Brigaid, a company that strives to bring fresh meals, made from scratch, to kids who get their lunch from school.

Brigaid’s first effort led him to New London, Connecticut, a school district where a quarter of students live under the poverty line. And now, Giusti will take his mission to New York City this fall, bringing chefs into public school kitchens in a move that dramatically expands on the company’s previous programs.

Giusti recently shared his philosophy to a crowd at MAD, the biennial conference focused on using food to better the world. Giusti’s plan is an ambitious one, but well worth it.