Named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in both 2012 and 2018, and awarded Outstanding Chef and Humanitarian of the Year by the James Beard Foundation, José Andrés is an internationally recognized culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, television personality, humanitarian and chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup. A pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, he is also known for his groundbreaking avant-garde cuisine and his award-winning group of restaurants, ranging in a variety of culinary experiences from a food truck to his multiple location, vegetable-focused, fast-casual Beefsteak to world-class tasting menus like the two Michelin-starred minibar by José Andrés and, in New York, his 35,000 square foot dining and market destination Mercado Little Spain. Newly formed in 2021, José Andrés Media will produce unscripted and scripted television series, books, podcasts and digital short- and mid-form content with a focus on food-related stories and characters and the culture of food. The company will pursue global strategic brand partnerships, including consumer products and e-commerce.
In 2010, Andrés formed 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 over 3.6 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, World Central Kitchen has partnered with thousands of local restaurants, farmers and community leaders around the country to combat food insecurity and create smart food policy. Andrés’ work has earned awards and distinctions, including the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Culinary Professionals and the 2015 National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama. Andrés was also named Washington Business Journal’s CEO of the Year in 2020 for his leadership and impact on the global business community and was awarded the Princesa de Asturias Foundation’s 2021 Concordia Prize for his humanitarian work. As a naturalized citizen originally from Spain, Andrés has been a tireless advocate for immigration reform.
