Chef José Andrés and his team of #ChefsforPuertoRico will be serving over 30,000 Thanksgiving meals on the island of Puerto Rico today — to our hungry fellow citizens.
This Thanksgiving, World Central Kitchen is giving thanks to the thousands of local volunteers and chefs who helped #ChefsForPuertoRico serve over 2.7 million meals to Hurricane Maria victims. We will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal for our volunteers and chefs with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable casserole, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.
To continue the celebration, our network of volunteers and chefs will prepare and distribute over 30,000 meals for families throughout the island, including the communities of Vieques, Naguabo, Adjuntas, Ponce, Dorado, and Utuado.
As many of us gather around a table today to stuff ourselves with turkey and dressing and numerous other food dishes that are old family recipes — take a few moments out to think of others who may not be as fortunate. There are thousands of places around the world and right here at home where food insecurity reigns. Remember them. My thoughts and prayers and donations today are focused on Puerto Rico, the USVI, and our fellow citizens there who are still caught in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
We all know that a powerful and wealthy nation like the U.S. should be able to take care of its citizens. It doesn’t. Sadly, under the leadership of a golfing grifter who wallows in conspicuous consumption and gold-plated greed— empathy and caring about the needs of those who are struggling is non-existent. The work placed on the shoulders of charitable organizations has increased immeasurably, in an attempt to pick up the slack that should be provided by our government.
This is a stop-gap, and cannot go on forever. Hopefully, those of you who do care will help turn the tables on the Republican hope-killers, and vote them out of office in the days ahead. Until that happens- and it isn’t going to come fast enough for any of us — we can at least offer thanks and support to those who are putting food on empty tables and filling empty larders.
Today, I’d like to give my thanks, and those of my Puerto Rican husband, to one of them. Chef José Andrés. He is not the only person providing sustenance. There are thousands — and we thank them all. He has however become the face of “feeding Puerto Rico.”
Join me today in offering thank yous — to Jose Andres, his team, and to all those volunteers and people who have donated, and continue to do so — to alleviate the ongoing misery faced by our island citizens.
Born on July 13, 1969 in Mieres, Sapin, José Andrés is an unlikely hero.
It all began in northern Spain, where Andrés began cooking at an early age—baking with his mother, composing dishes, excelling in culinary school, and apprenticing at elBulli with Ferran Adrià by 21.
Then, Andrés immigrated to the United States and became chef-partner of Washington, D.C. restaurant Jaleo—the foundation of a partnership that would become ThinkFoodGroup
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While Andrés shines impossibly bright in the culinary world, he is equally known for his commitment to solving food and hunger issues and for championing the role of chefs in the national debate on food policy. This past election season, Andrés held an unwavering stance for the protection of immigrant workers’ rights, and closed five of his restaurants for the national “Day Without Immigrants.”
I am sickened that we have “leaders” who are rejecting, disparaging, and deporting “immigrants”- who, like Andrés, enrich and sustain our nation. He and his wife became naturalized citizens of the U.S. in December of 2013.
Andrés arrived in Puerto Rico September 26 one week before Trump.
Before arriving in Puerto Rico, he was organizing meals and relief in Houston after Hurricane Harvey. And as he organizes food, workers, and supplies to feed those in need, Andrés has been harshly criticizing Trump's response to the humanitarian crisis in a series of tweets starting with: "If I was .@realDonaldTrump..."
One of the things that stuck me first — about his arrival, was that he 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.
They showed up in areas that needed help
It is now nearing the end of November. The 21 days he thought he would be there — have extended. The food he serves is nutritious and healthy — not snack packs.
This is not a healthy meal:
Now it is Thanksgiving — they are still there, and the people on the island are still in need.
I smiled watching the preparation for the holiday.
The lights are still going out as they cook.
Here is his message — wishing us all a happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you José Andrés. Dios te bendiga
Thank you to all who have and still continue to donate, and spread the word.
Hurricane Maria Support Hub.
World Central Kitchen