The Spanish chef José Andrés, based in the United States and who since 2013 has dual nationality of the American country, has just been appointed by President Biden as adviser to the Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Councilas co-president together with Elena Delle Donne, a professional basketball player.
José Andrés, who after presenting the study of the original formula of paella has returned to the Polish border with Ukraine to continue helping refugees and those affected by the war, he is a very popular figure in the country for a job that goes beyond the kitchen. The chef is known for his humanitarian work and his involvement in charitable and educational social projects.
The White House highlights the chef as culinary innovator and for being named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2012 and 2018, and for being awarded the National Humanities Medal at the hands of President Barack Obama in 2015. It also highlights the creation of the non-profit organization World Central Kitchen in 2010, using the power of food to nourish communities and strengthen economies in times of crisis.
The chef was already co-chairing the working group on food and nutrition security of the Bipartisan Policy Center and has always been very involved in nutritional education work parallel to its culinary outreach projects, as part of the promotion of good healthy habits aimed at all communities, especially the most disadvantaged.
People of the World… I’m back in Poland at the Medyka border with Ukraine! Almost a month since the invasion started & @WCKitchen has served over 2 Million meals—now reaching 200,000 every day. Our team here is cooking non-stop as families arrive on buses… #ChefsForUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/95aUT4piPV
– José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) March 23, 2022
The official body he now co-chairs, the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition (PCSFN), is a federal advisory committee whose main objective is to promote a healthy eating and accessible physical activity to the entire population, regardless of their origin or abilities. With the renewal of the presidential council, the next actions are to be focused on promoting sport among the youngest and raising awareness of the importance of Mental health also in relation to physical activity and nutrition.
Jose Andres also just announced his recent project in collaboration with the company Axiom Space in the creation of meals and menus that will feed the astronauts in the next missions on the International Space Station, taking Spanish products and dishes such as paella, olive oil, ratatouille or ham into space.
Direct to the Palate | Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen are already at the Ukrainian border to feed refugees
Direct to the Palate | Chef José Andrés and the NGO World Central Kitchen receive the 2021 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord