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Could José Andrés be the next winner of the Nobel Peace Prize? (Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post)
Tim Carman
Reporter focusing on food issues and trends at the national level; critical focusing on cheap meals in the DC area.
Since José Andrés and his small non-profit group took on the responsibility of feeding the hungry Puerto Ricans after the almost deadly punch of Hurricane Maria last year, the name of the famous chef was whispered when he spoke of candidates potential for the Nobel Peace Prize. Today, Representative John Delaney (D-Md.) Has confirmed that he has appointed the restaurateur and the humanitarian for the 2019 award.
Delaney, who has already announced his presidential campaign for 2020, said he could not discuss details of his appointment or what motivated him. The five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the annual prize, discourages candidates from a public announcement. The deadline for nominations is February 1st and the committee will announce the winners next October.
[José Andrés’s riveting ‘We Fed an Island’ calls for a revolution in disaster relief]
The Nobel Foundation did not immediately respond to an email regarding Nomination of Andrés. According to its website, the Nobel Committee "does not announce the names of the candidates themselves, neither to the media nor to the candidates themselves". The committee does not reveal any information on candidates until 50 years after the first announcement of the award.
Last year, according to the committee, there were 331 candidates, the second largest number ever registered. The record was 376 candidates in 2016.
Only certain people are allowed to submit candidates. They include people who have already won positions, current and former members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and current members of a national assembly, such as the House of Representatives.
The Washington Post obtained part of the formulation of Delaney's candidacy for Andrés. In the section where the congressman explained why he had named Andrés, Delaney wrote:
"Because of Mr. Andrés millions of people were fed. This is the most basic human need and M. Andrés It's revealed to be world class in this essential humanitarian area. With an incredible spirit and an innovative spirit, Mr. Andrés resolves one of the world's oldest problems and provides world leaders with a new roadmap to provide more effective disaster relief in the future. "
When joined by phone, Andrés feature minimized the appointment.
"Oh, wow," he said after a long pause. "They name everyone."
But after reflection, Andrés The listing proposal simply highlights the growing importance of food in US politics. Food plays a role in national security, public health, even in immigration, since many restaurant cuisines are run by immigrants from Central America.
"In the end," he added, "you see that food every day has a bigger impact."
Representative John Delaney named José Andrés for the Distinguished Award. (Andrew Harnik for the Washington Post)
The appointment of Andrés is not a surprise. As the face of ThinkFoodGroup, the parent company behind Jaleo, Oyamel, Minibar and other restaurants in the Washington area, Andrés has spent as much time in disaster areas as in kitchens over the last year. His Twitter account is a real-time diary of his humanitarian efforts in Puerto Rico, Florida, North Carolina, Guatemala and many other places served by volunteers from World Central Kitchen, the non-profit group that he founded after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010.
This Thanksgiving, Andrés He was not at home carving a turkey with his friends and family. He was in California, preparing hot meals for the campfire survivors, alongside fellow chefs Tyler Florence and Guy Fieri. They served 15,000 meals on Thanksgiving Day.
"The least we can do today on Thanksgiving is to get everything together and show people what they deserve: love and support, a plate of food at a time." Andrés said in a video posted on his Twitter feed.
[After Maria, José Andrés and his team have prepared more hot meals in Puerto Rico than the Red Cross]
The chief's experiences in the affected areas, including the long stay of World Central Kitchen in Puerto Rico, have Andrés a unique perspective on food aid. Earlier this year, along with journalist Richard Wolffe, he co-authored a book titled "We've Nurtured an Island: The True Story of Puerto Rico's Reconstruction, One Meal at a Time," in which he explained that the United States and the large non-profit organizations must rethink they feed people after natural disasters. He wants rescue groups to embrace complexity, rely on local resources, and abandon authoritarian and top-down leadership.
"What we did was that we adopted the complexity every second," wrote Andrés in his book. "Do not plan, do not meet, just improvise. The old school wants you to plan, but we needed to feed the people. "
Andrés' humanitarian efforts have often opposed him to President Trump. The two men clashed in court after the chief withdrew his planned restaurant at the Trump International Hotel. The lawsuit was settled last year, the terms not disclosed. Andrés's public fight with Trump, of course, may well satisfy voters, while Delaney shows up at the White House.
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