Located on the Polish border, American chef José Andrés took less than 72 hours to deploy the kitchens of his humanitarian association to feed Ukrainian and Ukrainian refugees. The humanist cook also helps restaurateurs provide them with what they need so that they too can participate in the war effort. Portrait.
Rawa-Ruska, a small Ukrainian town that was once infamous for its prison camp during World War II. Located less than ten kilometers from the first city on the Polish border, chef José Andrés distributes meals here to Ukrainian and Ukrainian refugees, assisted by sisters who are members of the international Caritas confederation. Through his Twitter account and the publication of videos, the American chef, of Spanish descent, presents the commitment of the kitchens of his association, World Central Kitchen, which has already distributed more than 8,000 soups, chicken stews and apple pies account stopped on Sunday, February 27 through another branch of his NGO on the Polish border.
People of the world… Reporting from the border with Ukraine! This is one of the places @WCKitchen has hot meals. It is below freezing tonight and I meet so many refugees, families escaping and not knowing what the future holds… We will do our best not to let them down! #ChefsForUkraine pic.twitter.com/YiEemUfLlC
— Jose Andrés (@chefjoseandres) February 28, 2022
A humanist leader
To feed all those fleeing war or trying to escape the damage caused by the wrath of the earth… This is the goal that José Andrés has set himself with his international commitment, launched in 2010 after the earthquake country that devastated Haiti. Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017, Hurricane Ida in New Orleans in 2021, the recent floods in Germany are all situations that motivate the World Central Kitchen to organize a food distribution. Concrete actions for which José Andrés was already thanked in 2019 by being named on the list of potential recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize. A year earlier, the humanist leader had been named ‘Humanitarian of the Year’ by the James Beard Foundation.
In the United States, we are aware of the unwavering commitment of this superstar chef, and we will not fail to salute him. Coincidentally, it is on March 19 that the documentary directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13) will showcase, on the occasion of SXSW in Austin, Texas (a series of film and music festivals), the way the World Central Kitchen organizes itself to be reactive when it comes to feeding a population in need. A long-awaited world premiere entitled “We feed people”.
One of the most influential people in the world
Aside from the humanitarian issue, José Andrés has had a political commitment in his adopted country for many years. As early as 2012, the Time magazine named him one of the hundred influential people in the world. The American publication put the cover back in 2018. During the presidential campaign against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, José Andrés positioned himself as a defender of migrants, in response to the words of whoever will ultimately win the battle. The chef has also taught at George Washington University. His credo? Gastronomy as a catalyst for the economy.
2 Michelin stars
If his action to feed those in need made him popular in the United States, José Andrés first gained his fame as a chef. The Spaniard was naturalized as an American in 2013 and landed in 1991 in Uncle Sam’s country, where he applies the concept of tapas. Distinguished as an icon of gastronomy by the ranking of the 50 best restaurants in the world in 2019, Andrés first established himself as a talent in the kitchen, winning two Michelin stars for his restaurant in Washington called Minibar, when the red guide decided to dedicate a price list to the US capital in October 2016. He now heads about fifteen culinary concepts that have spread to the United States, to Dubai via the Bahamas.
(ETX Daily Up)