Ismael Alba, a prominent Argentinian chef, prepared a homemade meal for Pope Francis during his visit to New York City in 2015. Selected for the honor by priests and UN members, Alba faced unexpected challenges, including home preparations rather than just cooking. He created a new 'holy grill' for the event and altered his menu to accommodate the pope's low-sodium diet, eventually opting for his mother-in-law's grilled chicken. Alba's encounter with the pope was profound; he refrains from putting the dish on his restaurant menu to avoid commercialization.
I was supposed to be preparing to cook for the pope, but instead I was preparing the house for the pope.
When I saw the pope, I swear I saw a light around him, like a saint.
To this day, he refuses to feature the chicken dish on his restaurant's menu because he doesn't want to be perceived as profiting from his brush with the pontiff.
Alba decided on his mother-in-law's grilled chicken and lemon dish after careful consideration.
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