Chef Tanka Sapkota Donates Rs 5.11 Million to Flood Relief, Demands Global Climate Justice for Mountain Communities

In an extraordinary demonstration of diaspora leadership, Lisbon-based culinary entrepreneur Chef Tanka Sapkota has contributed NPR 5,111,151 directly to the Prime Minister Natural Disaster Relief Fund. The donation was made from his family’s private resources to support immediate rescue, relief, and long-term rehabilitation for families devastated by the catastrophic Bhotekoshi flash floods. 

Nepali Ambassador to Portugal, Prakash Mani Paudel, commended the humanitarian effort, praising Sapkota’s swift response as a leading example of diaspora leadership and social responsibility during national emergencies. 

Beyond Relief: Championing Climate Justice on the Global Stage

For Chef Sapkota, the financial contribution is only the first step. Taking to social media, the culinary icon emphasized that monetary relief alone will not solve the underlying crisis facing Nepal’s fragile mountain geography.

Sapkota announced that he is taking proactive initiatives across Portugal and Europe to engage local policymakers, community leaders, and international influencers to confront the realities of global warming:

• Zero Contribution, Maximum Cost: Sapkota forcefully underscored the stark injustice facing indigenous mountain populations. The communities living along the rugged Himalayan rivers and hills have contributed practically nothing to global greenhouse gas emissions, industrial pollution, or carbon footprints.

• Paying in Full with Lives and Livelihoods: Despite bearing no responsibility for global warming, mountain residents are being forced to pay in full with their homes, ancestral lands, and human lives when climate-triggered disasters strike.

• A Call to European Leadership: Leveraging his high-profile public standing in Southern Europe, Chef Tanka Sapkota is initiating discussions with European figures and community stakeholders to emphasize accountability, urging developed nations to recognize loss and damage in vulnerable Himalayan regions.

A Three-Decade Journey of Culinary Excellence

Originally from Damek in Baglung, Chef Tanka Sapkota’s journey spans three decades in Portugal. Starting from modest kitchen roles, he built an acclaimed culinary empire in Lisbon:

• Come Prima: Founded in 1999, an iconic Italian fine-dining landmark in Lisbon’s Lapa district, celebrated globally for house-made artisanal pasta and organic seasonal truffles.

• Forno d'Oro: Renowned worldwide for authentic Neapolitan pizza baked in a hand-crafted, gold-leaf-lined wood oven, earning honors in international Top 10 rankings.

• Casa Nepalesa: Sapkota’s culinary tribute to his heritage, elevating traditional Nepali gastronomy through heritage mountain spices, slow-cooking traditions, and indigenous flavors.

• Il Mercato: A bustling celebration of market-fresh regional Italian pasta and traditional gastronomy, decorated with the prestigious Ospitalità Italiana seal.

A Persistent Force for Social Impact

This initiative marks another chapter in Sapkota’s active social commitment. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, his restaurant kitchens prepared and served over 10,000 free hot meals to Lisbon’s healthcare personnel and marginalized residents. Through consistent youth education partnerships and child welfare support both in Portugal and Nepal, Chef Tanka Sapkota continues to demonstrate that culinary influence can serve as a vital platform for humanitarian advocacy and planetary justice.