Chef José Andrés has been named the 2019 recipient of the Julia Child Award, “given to a figure in the culinary world who best embodies Child’s legacy as a teacher, mentor and communicator.” For the chef, there’s a special connection that goes beyond the love of food, though: a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Spain, he credits the late chef with helping him learn English.
“I was fascinated by the way she would express herself,” he said. “The way she will seem to enjoy life. The way she will make you feel like that one chicken she had in front of her was the most important thing in the history of mankind. And I guess, in part, I learned English watching that woman.”
Andrés has created a legacy of his own, not just from his restaurants and cooking, but from his tireless work as a humanitarian around the world. Andrés’ World Central Kitchen, The Washington Post reports, “stepped up to feed the island of Puerto Rico when FEMA disaster relief was disorganized and slow after Hurricane Maria. World Central Kitchen served more meals than the Red Cross.”
Denise Oliver Velez wrote in late 2017 that after his arrival to the island, Andrés “immediately made a map—and figured out where food was needed and how to get there. In many areas—he arrived before FEMA, who were making excuses while people went hungry. Going beyond feeding people, he has also brought in medicines—and provided a lifeline to the outside world in areas without communication.”
The work continued, with World Central Kitchen going to the southern border late last year to feed asylum-seekers. Andrés plans to use the $50,000 grant that comes with the award to make sure World Central Kitchen continues this good work. The chef, Julia Child Foundation chair Eric Spivey said, is “teaching us how to cook, but he’s teaching us how to be humanitarians. How to be involved in our public, in the community and … trying to help others before focusing on yourself.”
“On behalf of all my team, and specially all the immigrants of America, I’m humble and honored to receive such an award,” Andrés tweeted. “Gracias.”