José Ramón Andrés Puerta was born on July 13, 1969, Mieres, Spain. He is a world-renowned celebrity chef, philanthropist, and a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee. He owns various restaurants in the U.S.A. and has been credited for bringing to America the small plate concept popular in Spain called tapas.
He is the founder of World Central Kitchen, a non-profit devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters. He’s authored various cookbooks and wrote the book “We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time.”
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To honor Chef José Andrés I had my tween dress up as him for our Hispanic Heritage Day event at our local library. Instructions on how to make the apron will be at the end of this post.
About World Central Kitchen:
- World Central Kitchen is an organization comprised of chefs that provide meals in disaster areas.
- The non-profit organization served 3 million meals to Puerto Ricans in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
- His non-profit organization has served natural disaster-torn countries and states. They have provided meals in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010, Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017, Guatemala after the volcanoes erupted in 2018, in Indonesia after the tsunamis, California fires, and Carolina floods.
- World Central Kitchen has also been serving meals to the migrants coming from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador at the Tijuana camp.
Big news! #ChefsForPuertoRico has served over 3 MILLION fresh meals to people in need! @ChefVentura cooked the 3 millionth meal in our Adjuntas kitchen. So proud of our @WCKitchen team!! pic.twitter.com/rQEBfaInT9
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) November 27, 2017
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Although there aren’t any children’s books on José Andrés. He is an author himself and has written quite a few cookbooks. You can look for one of his cookbooks in the library and whip up a recipe with your child.
Cúrate: Authentic Spanish Food from an American Kitchen
Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America: A Cookbook
Vegetables Unleashed: A Cookbook
Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America: A Cookbook
I’m also reading and talking to my son about how José Andrés with World Central Kitchen prepared and delivered 3 million meals beating all the odds on a hurricane-ridden island: no electricity, no water, and with no access to communities.
This book is a great read for high school kids and can be used as a part of a Puerto Rican studies class or course.
We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time
As I mentioned earlier in my post, I wanted to honor the philanthropic and humanitarian work that he’s doing with World Central Kitchen so I had my tween dress up as Chef José Andrés.
DIY José Andrés apron


The logo of World Central Kitchen is a skillet with round shapes of different colors, and what appears to circle in the shapes of the continents. All you need is an apron, felt in yellow, orange, green, purple, and blue. These are the colors on the World Central Kitchen logo. You will also need a pair of scissors, felt letters, and hot glue. I actually used a large plate and traced the circle around the felt. Depending on how big the apron is you cut out the circles, and one with a handle (to resemble a skillet). Glue one at a time, and lastly add the felt letters. Pair it with a chef’s hat and you’ve got yourself José Andrés. This is an easy costume to make and kids can dress up as his character book parade at school or a Hispanic Heritage Month event. If you don’t have an apron you can make one yourself! Click here.

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