Chef José Andrés nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

He has worked to provide food for victims in disaster areas all over the world

Chef José Andrés nominated for Nobel Peace Prize (Getty)

Chef José Andrés has been nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for his disaster relief efforts.

In 2010, the chef, activist and humanitarian founded World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organisation that has, since its inception, served meals to people located in disaster zones around the world, including Houston, Texas, the Carolinas, and Guatemala.

Following the devastation left behind by Hurricane Maria in 2017 in Puerto Rico, Andrés and his team led the way in providing help, and food, to victims of the storm.

The Spanish-born chef and World Central Kitchen reportedly ended up making more than three million meals in the aftermath of the deadly storm.

Andrés and his organisation have since turned the attention to California, where the 49-year-old chef has been focused on feeding survivors of the deadly wildfires.

On Thanksgiving, Andrés, with the help of his colleagues and volunteers, was able to feed 15,000 people displaced by the California Camp Fire.

And his efforts have not gone unnoticed - in addition to earning a place on Time’s Most Influential People of 2018 list and the James Beard House’s 2018 choice for Humanitarian of the Year, Andrés has now been nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize by Representative John Delaney of Maryland, according to the Washington Post.

“Because of Mr Andrés’s work, millions of people have been fed. This is the most basic human need and Mr Andrés has proven to be world-class in this essential humanitarian field,” Mr Delaney wrote of his nominee. “With an incredible spirit and an innovative mind, Mr Andrés is solving one of the world’s ancient problems and supplying world leaders with a new road map to provide more effective disaster relief in the future.”

As for the chef’s response to the honour, previously bestowed upon Barack Obama and Mother Teresa, Andrés remained humble, telling the Washington Post: “Oh, wow. They nominate everybody.”

And on Twitter, Andrés also downplayed the prestigious honour.

“My friend, I don’t know if it is true, but if it is, I’m humbled by it,” he responded to a tweet which named him the most-deserving nominee. “I’m one more guy between thousands of people helping feed people in need, every day, around the world, unrecognised…”

If he wins, Andrés will be the first chef to win the prestigious award, according to Today.

The recipient of the award will be announced in October from approximately 300 nominees.