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 Andrés
Washington, DC
Two Michelin stars; modernist tasting menu in the elBulli tradition.
Jaleo
Washington, DC / Las Vegas / Orlando
His pioneering Spanish tapas restaurant, opened 1993.
Zaytinya
Washington, 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

Spanish tapas in AmericaModernist tasting menusDisaster relief cooking

Cookbooks

Vegetables Unleashed
Made in Spain
We Fed an Island
Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America

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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 traditionsJosé has worked with throughout their career.

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Spanish Octopus with Smoked Paprika — Andrés-Inspired

Slow-poached octopus with crushed potatoes, sweet smoked paprika and the best olive oil you can afford.

15m prep · 90m cook · ⭐ 4.8

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Spanish Tortilla (Tortilla Española) — Andrés-Inspired

Slow-cooked potatoes and onions bound with eggs into Spain's most beloved national dish — silky in the centre, golden on the outside.

15m prep · 45m cook · ⭐ 4.9

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.

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Valencian Chicken & Chorizo Paella

20 prep · 45 cook · ⭐ 4.8

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Spanish Patatas Bravas – Crispy Potatoes with Spicy Tomato Sauce and Alioli

20 prep · 30 cook · ⭐ 4.8

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Spanish Tortilla Española – Potato and Egg Omelette

15 prep · 40 cook · ⭐ 4.8

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Andalusian Gazpacho

20 prep · 0 cook · ⭐ 4.6

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.