In less developed countries, there are 3 billion people using fire and charcoal to cook their meals and heat their homes, creating health and environmental issues. According to the World Health Organization, over 4 million people die prematurely every year from household cooking smoke. That is double the number of people who die each year from HIV/AIDS. This isn’t just happening in rural villages in Africa or India. It’s happening right here in our backyards; 2 hours from Miami, in Haiti.
Named “Outstanding Chef” by the James Beard Foundation and recognized by Time magazine on the “Time 100″ list of most influential people in the world, José Andrés is an internationally-recognized culinary innovator. Andrés teaches at Harvard and The George Washington University. He is also the founder of World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit which aims to feed and empower vulnerable people in humanitarian crises around the world.