Acclaimed chef and humanitarian José Andrés shared stories from his childhood in Spain, his experiences in restaurant kitchens around the world and his work in disaster and conflict zones in a conversation about his new book at Lisner Auditorium Thursday.
Andrés discussed his book “Change the Recipe” — a collection of life lessons drawn from his culinary journey and global humanitarian work — reflected on his experience moving to America and spoke on the role of human decency and mutual respect in society. Andrés conversed with radio journalist Guy Raz, a bestselling author and podcaster who hosted NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered from 2009 to 2012 and the TED Radio Hour from 2013 to 2019, at the event co-sponsored by the University and local bookstore Politics and Prose.
University President Ellen Granberg opened the event and said Andrés has long ties to the University. She said he founded the GW Global Food Institute, a research institute that works to improve global food sustainability and security, delivered the 2014 commencement address and received an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from the University and helped create “World on a Plate,” a course exploring how food intersects with culture, policy, science and justice, in collaboration with other GW professors in 2013.
Andrés said he initially considered several directions for his new book, ranging from a traditional cookbook to a series of open letters to his three daughters, but he settled on a book that would connect his past and present by retelling lessons he learned throughout his life.
Andrés said moving to D.C. in 1993 unexpectedly reminded him of home as the city’s blooming cherry trees evoked memories of his childhood in Asturias, Spain, a place also known for its flowering trees. He said after starting a family in D.C., he watched his daughters explore the city, which reminded him of his own youth of discovering new cuisines and cultures, which was part of the inspiration for the book.
“And again bringing those memories, but they were not happening in Spain, the country I grew up in, but they were happening right here, in the place that I now call home,” Andrés said.
Andrés said his book weaves together stories from his childhood in a small farming town outside Barcelona, eating his mother’s croquetas, picking cherries from trees and learning to cook alongside his parents with reflections on life, resilience and lessons meant to guide people navigating uncertain or challenging moments.
Founder of the disaster relief nonprofit World Central Kitchen, which provides meals in response to humanitarian and climate crises, Andrés has become a global leader in crisis response, feeding millions in the aftermath of hurricanes, earthquakes and wars.
Andrés said he held himself “responsible” for the deaths of World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza, at least three of whom were killed by an Israeli airstrike in November 2024, because of his decision to send the organization there for relief efforts. He said one of the workers killed was a “very dear friend” of his.
“When I wake up knowing that she lost her life delivering food for me, obviously that was a moment I will never forget forever,” Andrés said.
Andrés said while he feels pride in America, he is concerned the country is “on the edge” of losing its social and economic progress “overnight” because of the Trump administration’s anti-immigration stance and economic policies like tariffs, which discourage international trade. But he said he believes that in the “worst moments of humanity,” the best of humanity “shows up.”
“You don’t hear those stories, but that’s the real story of what we live in,” Andrés said. “It’s more people of goodness than people of hate.”
After spending time in both New York and California, Andrés moved permanently to Washington, D.C. in 1993 to head the kitchen at Jaleo, a new tapas restaurant bringing traditional Spanish cuisine to the city.
He said he was unsure about moving to D.C. at first, because he had heard the city was different than New York and San Diego because its culture was less accepting of culinary innovation, a sentiment he said he later realized was far from the truth.
“This city, for me, was the city of cities, and to this day this city has always been able to keep bringing new talent,” Andrés said.
He said discovering more of the city, like its large culinary scene and the community of dedicated chefs who helped shape his early years in D.C., changed his skepticism of the city’s character.
“The most talented friendship you could find anywhere in the world was right here in Washington, D.C.,” Andrés said.
Andrés said people need to start “normalizing” disagreeing with each other and understanding others’ differences, which will help reduce the country’s current highly politically polarized climate. He said people should be “giving dignity” to each other and “not calling names,” especially not politicians.
“Dignity is the only thing we have,” Andrés said. “And respect given and respect earned is the only thing we have as humans. Let’s not forget that.”
