Dishwasher at world-renowned Noma restaurant in Copenhagen becomes its co-owner

The dishwasher, described as the "heart and soul" of the world-renowned Noma restaurant in Copenhagen, has become its co-owner after 14 years of working at the restaurant, writes The Guardian, reports Patria.

The decision to promote Ali Sonko, who has performed manual labor in Noma's kitchen since the restaurant's opening in 2003, was announced at a party in Copenhagen celebrating the last day of operations at the seaside location in Christianshavn.

Noma restaurant, which has been ranked #1 in the world four times by Restaurant magazine and among the top 50 restaurants in the world three times by San Pellegrino, is moving to a new location with a new concept of an "urban farm.".

René Redzepi, culinary maestro and owner of Noma, announced on his Facebook page that one of the "happiest moments at Noma" for him was the announcement that Ali would become one of his business partners, adding that it was a result of his hard work and perpetual smile.

- I think people don't appreciate what it really means to have someone like Ali at home, Redzepi told friends who attended the farewell party for the restaurant's relocation. "He's always smiling, regardless of how his 12 children behave," Redzepi added.

The 62-year-old Sonko, who moved to Denmark 34 years ago from his native Gambia where he worked as a farmer, described his job as "the best ever.".

- I can't describe how happy I am to work here, he told the Danish portal BT. "They are the best people to work with, and I am good friends with everyone. They show me immense respect and are always there for me," Sonko explained.

Redzepi, whose restaurant also proudly holds two Michelin stars, says he planned to surprise other staff members with "a piece of the wall where they work so diligently." Besides Sonko, Lau Richter, Noma's service director, and James Spreadbury, an Australian who has managed the restaurant since 2009, will also become partners. Redzepi says his father, also named Ali, worked as a dishwasher when he first immigrated to Denmark from Macedonia.

Sonko first appeared in the media in 2010 due to visa issues that prevented him from traveling to London with the Noma team to receive the award for the world's best restaurant from Restaurant magazine.

Noma representatives wore t-shirts with Ali Sonko's image for the ceremony, as he could not be with them. Two years later, when Noma won this award again, Sonko managed to come to London to give a speech and thank them for the award on behalf of the restaurant.

Noma, a restaurant known for its creative menu based on locally sourced Nordic food, got its name from the Danish words "nordisk" (Nordic) and "mad" (food).