We Fed an Island: The True Story of Rebuilding Puerto Rico, One Meal at a Time
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria swept through the Caribbean Sea, devastating Dominica, Saint Croix, and Puerto Rico and killing thousands of people. Many survivors were left with nothing: destroyed homes, contaminated water, and little food.
Four days after the storm made landfall, chef José Andrés arrived in Puerto Rico. Determined to help in the only way he knew how, he began rallying local chefs and sourcing food to feed entire neighborhoods. Soon, his operation was distributing more than 100,000 hot meals every day to people in need.
As he coordinated this network of community kitchens, he encountered constant roadblocks: corruption, inefficiency, and the callousness of politicians. Yet every day, Andrés and his team from World Central Kitchen continued to witness the hope created by a simple plate of good food.
Quote:
“There’s something fundamental about food; about preparing, cooking and eating together. It’s what binds us; it’s how we build community. Eating isn’t functional. Food relief shouldn’t be either. Whether I am cooking for Washingtonians or refugees, my job as a chef is the same: to feed the many. Whether I am creating an avant-garde meal that deconstructs your idea of a familiar meal, or a giant pot of rice and chicken that fills your belly, I believe in the transformational power of cooking.”
Authors:
José Andrés is a chef, restaurateur, and philanthropist. Born in Spain, he has established several acclaimed restaurants in the United States and was named Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic by the James Beard Foundation in 2003. In 2010, he founded World Central Kitchen to provide meals in the wake of disasters and provide food resiliency in communities.
Richard Wolffe is a journalist, political analyst, and author. He is a frequent commentator on MSNBC and has reported for Newsweek, the Financial Times, and the Guardian. His other books include Renegade: The Making of a President and Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White House.
Published: 2018
Length: 288 pages
Set in: Puerto Rico