U2 at Refettorio Paris. Image courtesy of Refettorio Paris's Instagram

U2 play Massimo Bottura’s Refettorio Paris

Bono and the band took an opportunity during their tour to entertain guests at Massimo's Bread Is Gold restaurant

The European leg of U2’s eXPERIENCE + iNNOCENCE came to Paris last Saturday, and, in between their six nights at the city’s AccorHotels Arena, they found time to put on a more intimate performance.

The band played an impromptu acoustic set, including versions of their 1991 hit One and their 2000 single Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of, at Refettorio Paris, chef Massimo Bottura’s Food For Soul soup kitchen in Foyer de la Madelaine yesterday. This Refettorio, alongside others in Milan, London and Rio, takes unwanted ingredients from restaurants and other suppliers, and gets great chefs to turn them into delicious, nutritious meals for the poor.

Yet the Refettorios have always been about more than simple nourishment; Massimo wants to give those down on their luck a little dignity and respite from their troubles. 

 

 

This might be through restaurant-style table service, or via a little post-prandial entertainment, such as the one the band put on at the Refettorio Paris, playing an acoustic version of their 1991 hit One. The song is closely associated with Bono's own philanthropic venture ONE, a global campaign and advocacy organization with more than 9 million members committed to taking action to end extreme poverty.

 

Bread is Gold
Bread is Gold

For more on Massimio’s charity work, and the delicious food he has made from simple leftovers get Bread is Gold; proceeds from the book go towards the Refettoria around the world.