Past Event On November 21, 2020
José Andrés
Changing the World Through the Power of Food
“We have shown that there is no place too far or disaster too great for our chefs to be there with a hot plate of food when it’s needed most.”
José Andrés
Changing The World Through The Power Of Food
Virtual Program Date: November 21, 2020
José Andrés has dedicated himself to not just feeding the few at his award-winning restaurants, but to feeding the many as well. Alongside his nonprofit organization, World Central Kitchen, Andrés works to find smart solutions to hunger and poverty around the world, focusing on health, education, and jobs. Beginning with his experience volunteering in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake and today, through his work to feed cities across America during the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrés has shown that food can be used to empower communities, strengthen economies, and feed the human spirit.
“His passion, enthusiasm and his mission were so infectious and inspiring! And I loved that he humbly pointed back, giving credit to his predecessors and parents rather than accepting credit and glory for how much he has accomplished. He is a stellar, living example of humanitarianism during these incredibly difficult times. Thank God for people like Chef Andrés!”
– Subscriber Comment
About JOSÉ ANDRÉS
Named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in both 2012 and 2018, and awarded “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation, José Andrés is an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, television personality, humanitarian, and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup.
A pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, he is also known for his groundbreaking avant-garde cuisine and his award-winning group of more than 30 restaurants located throughout the country and beyond, ranging in a variety of culinary experiences from a food truck to his multi-location vegetable-focused fast casual Beefsteak, to world-class tasting menus like minibar by José Andrés and Somni, both of which have received two Michelin stars.
In 2010, Andrés formed World Central Kitchen, a non-profit that provides smart solutions to end hunger and poverty by using the power of food to empower communities and strengthen economies. Notably, his team served over 3.6 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
A champion for the role of chefs in the debate on food policy, Andrés is called upon regularly to speak on a variety of issues revolving around hunger, food security, childhood nutrition education, clean cookstoves, international development, and agriculture.
“Food is national security.
– José Andrés
Food is craft. Food is everything, when you think about it.”
Profiled on 60 Minutes, Andrés also regularly appears on Today and Top Chef, as well as NPR’s The Splendid Table and All Things Considered. Andrés also teaches “Science and Cooking” at Harvard University as well as “The Sustainable Plate” at George Washington University, and has written widely read editorials for The Washington Post, National Geographic, and Eater on issues surrounding immigration, food policy, and international development.
He has authored several bestselling books including Vegetables Unleashed: A Cookbook and We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time.
Andrés’ work has earned awards and distinctions including the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the 2015 National Humanities Medal, one of twelve distinguished recipients of the award from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Andrés was also named EY Master Entrepreneur of the Year in Greater Washington for his leadership and impact on the global business community and was awarded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Chair’s Medallion Award.
As a naturalized citizen originally from Spain, Andrés has been a tireless advocate for immigration reform.