José Andrés

José Andrés is the Founder of World Central Kitchen. At the age of 21, José Andrés moved to the US from Spain with just $50 in his pocket, having already attended culinary school, served as a military cook, and worked for three years at a famed Catalonian restaurant. Over the next 30 years, José made a name for himself as a world-renowned chef and restaurateur — often credited with introducing tapas to American eaters and earning four Michelin stars  — and currently his ThinkFoodGroup comprises 28 acclaimed restaurants around the world. In 2010, José began his efforts to use food as an agent of change and founded World Central Kitchen, which has since earned him the title of “Humanitarian of the Year” from the James Beard Foundation. Formed with the goal of finding smart solutions to hunger and poverty, World Central Kitchen pivoted in the aftermath of 2017’s Hurricane Maria to become the world’s foremost food first responders, serving meals on the ground as a critical form of disaster relief.