José Andrés
🇪🇸 Spain · Spanish cuisine · b. 1969
The Asturian-born chef who introduced America to small plates — and feeds disaster zones with World Central Kitchen.
Biography
José Andrés is a Spanish-American chef, restaurateur and humanitarian based in Washington, DC. Trained at elBulli under Ferran Adrià, he moved to the United States in 1991 and is widely credited with introducing tapas and small-plate dining to American audiences through restaurants like Jaleo and minibar by José Andrés (two Michelin stars).
His ThinkFoodGroup operates more than 30 restaurants across the US, Mexico, the Bahamas and Europe. But his most globally significant work is humanitarian: in 2010 he founded World Central Kitchen (WCK), which has served tens of millions of meals in disaster zones from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, to Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion, to Gaza, Türkiye and Morocco after major earthquakes.
Andrés has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024 for his humanitarian work.
Cooking Philosophy
Food is a basic right and the kitchen is a tool of social action. Andrés argues that chefs have a duty beyond their restaurants — to feed people in crisis, to advocate for food security, and to use cuisine as a form of cultural diplomacy.
Restaurants
- minibar by José AndrésWashington, DC
Two Michelin stars; modernist tasting menu in the elBulli tradition.
- JaleoWashington, DC / Las Vegas / Orlando
His pioneering Spanish tapas restaurant, opened 1993.
- ZaytinyaWashington, DC / New York
Eastern Mediterranean small plates.
Awards & Recognition
- U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2024)
- Nobel Peace Prize nominee (2019, 2022, 2023)
- James Beard Outstanding Chef (2011)
- 2 Michelin stars (minibar)
Iconic Dishes
Cookbooks
- Vegetables Unleashed
- Made in Spain
- We Fed an Island
- Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America
Signature Recipes Inspired by José
Original recipes we created as homages to José's cooking style and signature dishes. Not direct reproductions of any copyrighted material — these are our interpretations of the traditions José has worked with throughout their career.
Recipes in José's Style
These recipes from our database reflect the spanish cooking tradition that José works in. They are not direct reproductions of José's copyrighted recipes, but traditional dishes inspired by the same culinary heritage.
Career Timeline
Begins training at elBulli under Ferran and Albert Adrià.
Moves to the United States with $50 in his pocket.
Opens Jaleo in Washington, DC — introducing American diners to authentic tapas.
Opens minibar, his modernist tasting-menu restaurant in DC.
Founds World Central Kitchen after the Haiti earthquake.
Wins James Beard Outstanding Chef award.
WCK serves millions of meals in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria — Andrés becomes globally known for disaster relief.
Awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Mentors & Influences
Frequently Asked Questions about José Andrés
What is World Central Kitchen?
World Central Kitchen (WCK) is the disaster relief nonprofit José Andrés founded in 2010. It deploys chef-led teams to disaster zones — earthquakes, hurricanes, wars — and works with local restaurants and farmers to serve hot meals at scale. It has served tens of millions of meals across more than 50 countries.
Did José Andrés train at elBulli?
Yes — Andrés trained at elBulli under Ferran Adrià in the late 1980s before moving to the United States in 1991. He brought the elBulli technique to America at minibar, his Washington tasting-menu restaurant, which now holds two Michelin stars.
How many restaurants does José Andrés own?
His ThinkFoodGroup operates more than 30 restaurants across the United States, Mexico, the Bahamas and Europe, spanning Spanish tapas (Jaleo), Eastern Mediterranean (Zaytinya), modernist tasting menus (minibar) and Mexican (Oyamel).
Has Andrés really been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize?
Yes — Andrés has been formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times (2019, 2022, 2023) for his work with World Central Kitchen feeding people in war zones, hurricane-hit islands and earthquake areas. He has not yet won, but the nominations underscore how seriously his humanitarian work is taken.
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