Renowned Chef José Andrés has fought hunger with his non-governmental organization World Central Kitchen in America and beyond. Now he’s throwing his weight behind an effort to win the pandemic in the U.S.
Andrés, who appears often in top-rated American shows like Today, News Sunday Morning and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, says he’ll give away $50 gift certificates to people getting vaccinated. The certificates could be redeemed at any of his famous restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area.
“We want everyone vaccinated,” has tweeted the celebrity cook who has been featured in the TV series Top Chef. The offer will stand until the country gets 70 percent of the population inoculated against COVID 19, he says. Restaurant patrons must show “vaccine papers” to take advantage of the special offer at the chef’s D.C. eateries.
Andres’s company Think Food Group has eight restaurants in the nation’s capital, including Barmini, China Chilcano, Jaleo and Minibar.
TFG also has locations in Miami, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando and the Bahamas that offer Spanish, Mexican, Peruvian and other cuisines.
This is not the first time the famous cook gets involved in the pandemic. Last year, his NGO’s efforts to feed those struggling financially during the coronavirus in his natal Spain made him the subject of the documentary film José Andrés. Cocina Frente a la Pandemia for Radio Televisión Española, RTVE.
World Central Kitchen has also responded to hurricanes and other emergencies in Haiti, Peru, Houston, Puerto Rico, California, Hawaii, Indonesia, Guatemala, Mexico, the Carolinas, Florida, Nebraska, Mozambique, Colombia, and Venezuela, according to the NGO’s Facebook page.
Andrés may arguably be one of the most famous chefs in America and the world. Time magazine named him one of “100 Most Influential People” in 2011. He has won nearly a dozen honors for both his cuisine and humanitarian work, including stars from the Michelin Guide, the National Humanities Medal in 2015, the McCall-Pierpaoli Award from Refugees International, an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from George Washington University and the Hispanic Heritage Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.
Andrés has earned even more global notoriety for being the only chef and one of very few people in the world who have sued Donald Trump (The Apprentice) and forced the now-former president to settle a lawsuit. The Spanish chef backed out of a deal to open a restaurant at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. The immigrant cook did not appreciate presidential candidate Trump launching his presidential campaign attacking Mexican immigrants in 2015. Trump sued and Andrés countersued in return. Both parties settled their lawsuit reportedly on amicable, undisclosed terms. But ultimately no TGF restaurant will be part of the ex-president’s DC hotel.
Featured Photo: Celebrity Chef José Andrés also leads the nonprofit World Central Kitchen to feed the hungry. Credit: WCK’s Facebook page.