José Andrés is known for his humanitarian efforts, along with his amazing food. Among other things, he has a non-profit organization called World Central Kitchen, which forms relief kitchens all over the world to help feed people when natural disasters and other crises strike.
All his efforts don't come without proper recognition. Last year, the chef earned the James Beard Humanitarian of the Year Award for his work on hunger issues and there are reports he’s been nominated for a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize (although nominees won’t officially be announced until the fall). And on Tuesday, it was announced that Andrés will receive the Julia Child Award, an annual honor given by the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and Culinary Arts to recognize a person or team of people that have made “a profound and significant different in the way America cooks, eats, and drinks,” according to the foundation’s website.
Along with the award, the recipient is given a $50,000 grant—and Andrés plans to funnel that money back into World Central Kitchen to help with future humanitarian efforts.
“For me to win this award, it is such an honor. [Child’s] influence is everywhere,” Andrés said. “I still think about her show, the one with the chicken. She took her cooking seriously but at the same time knew how to have fun with the food. This is what cooking is all about.”
Andrés also echoed the sentiment on Twitter:
This is the fifth year the foundation is handing out its award. Previous winners include Rick Bayless, Danny Meyer, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, and Jacques Pepin. Andrés will receive the award at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. on Nov. 7.
