San Sebastián, Spain -
Food makes all else possible. The human capacity to learn, live, love - and certainly, to survive - depends universally on physical nourishment.
Here in one of the world’s greatest culinary capitals, where food is central to Basque culture and global prestige, it’s clear that food also fuels identity, preserves tradition, and helps people maintain pride and dignity.
Few understand better these essential roles for food than Chef José Andres. Even fewer determine to do something about it. He started World Central Kitchen (WCK) in 2010 to provide food quickly and at scale when crises erupt.
WCK is a first responder of sorts, an expeditionary force that immediately arrives on station to feed people in desperate need. WCK then scales its operation by enlisting local chefs and volunteers to join the cause while integrating their understanding of the region’s people, cultures, and logistics into the fold.
World Central Kitchen has fed many hundreds of thousands of hungry people in crisis in Dominican Republic, Cuba, Nicaragua, Peru, the United Stares, and Zambia. For his soulful leadership and meaningful impact, Chef Andres received the 2018 “Humanitarian of the Year” Award from the James Beard Foundation.
Chef Andres’ devotion to this cause is painfully evident right now within Ukraine and across its many borders. Millions of people have been streaming out of Ukraine at the bloody hands of Putin’s fascist barbarism. They need help and the warm meals and even warmer smiles provided by Chef Andres’ people start them on the road to reclaiming their humanity.
Image courtesy of Time Magazine.