José Andrés

JOSÉ  ANDRÉS, named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in both 2012 and 2018, and awarded the 2015 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama, is an internationally recognized humanitarian, culinary innovator, educator and New York Times bestselling author. A pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, he is also known for his groundbreaking avant-garde cuisine and his award-winning restaurant collective, ThinkFoodGroup. Newly formed in 2021, José Andrés Media will produce unscripted and scripted television series, books, podcasts and digital content with a focus on food-related stories and the culture of food. In 2010, Andrés founded World Central Kitchen, a non-profit which uses the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis and beyond. Notably, his team served four million meals to the people of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, and have since responded to natural disasters ranging from hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes, as well as humanitarian emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic. Andrés’ work has earned awards and distinctions, including Outstanding Chef and Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation and the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Andrés and World Central Kitchen were awarded the Princesa de Asturias Foundation’s 2021 Concordia Prize. As a naturalized citizen originally from Spain, Andrés has also been a tireless advocate for immigration reform.