Patrons of the In Galera restaurant in Milan dine behind bars. While serving their sentences, felons here are learning to cook and serve gourmet meals.
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00:00This prison serves gourmet meals, not to its inmates, but to patrons of the prison's own high-class restaurant.
00:10Here the prisoners cook for and wait on the guests.
00:15That begs the question, why would diners go to a prison for dishes cooked by felons?
00:24Many people are surprised by our professionality, at least that's what they say.
00:31We're here voluntarily, we wanted to see the handcuffs here.
00:35But no, it's a great experience, something else for a change.
00:40The crew is made up of felons serving long sentences, but the atmosphere is elegant, even if behind bars.
00:47The restaurant's called In Galera, or In Jail. It's the Bollate Penitentiary in Milan, northern Italy.
00:57Cesta da Mesa has done ten years so far, and has another four years to go.
01:04Many patrons ask how much longer we've got, and what crime we committed, but we don't tell anyone, on principle.
01:13In Italy, Milan's Bollate Penitentiary is regarded as a model prison, with medium security.
01:21Many inmates use the opportunity to work. In addition to the restaurant, it has a call centre and a glassblowing shop.
01:28And the concept works. Only about 2% of inmates who learn a trade in Italy's prisons commit another crime,
01:35as opposed to 70% of the general population of offenders.
01:39Project director Silvia Poleri says that the restaurant also brings people from outside in touch with the inmates.
01:46We want a restaurant here in the prison to show the patrons that prisoners are people just like them, and not extraterrestrials.
01:55Here the inmates can prove how well they're able to work.
02:02Ester has been working here as a waiter for three years, and says he feels like a new man when he puts on his uniform.
02:10I want to be good at this job, and I enjoy talking to the patrons. I want them to enjoy coming here and be satisfied when they leave.
02:21The gourmet restaurant behind bars is one of a kind in Italy, and usually booked solid.
02:27After passing through security at the entrance, the patrons are shown to their seats by an inmate.
02:34In Galera may not have any Michelin stars, but it did get a mention in the Michelin guide.
02:41The menu includes such delicacies as sashi tatar and a red beet carpaccio, mantis shrimp and salmon tataki.
02:52A main course typically goes for 24 euros.
02:58The food is very good, and I don't eat meat, but they manage that quickly and professionally.
03:07They're very competent, and you can tell they know what they're doing.
03:13Head chef Davide Sobacchi is not incarcerated, but he's been running the prison restaurant since 2015.
03:20He supervises the work of nine inmates, and now in Galera is turning a profit.
03:26The inmate employees are under contract and earning from 1,300 to 2,400 euros after taxes.
03:33Before the first patrons arrive, the prisoners get to try out the dishes they've prepared.
03:40But the main thing is that they have the chance to work here and learn a trade.
03:48I'm very proud of this work, and that I was given this opportunity, and I've stayed with it for so many years.
03:54It's hard enough just to find a job, and not easy to stick with it.
04:00I have a little daughter. My wife doesn't work, and I can send money home to support them.
04:06I work here Tuesday through Saturday, and recently I've been getting furloughs on Sunday.
04:15Next year, in Galera will celebrate its 10th anniversary and 10 years of success.
04:22The inmates who have worked here have what it takes for a great head start.
04:28Almost every one of the team plans to work in gastronomy after they're released.