Star chef Jose Andres to open kitchen for furloughed feds

Chef Jose Andres talks to the press while arriving to the entrance plaza of the Santurce Fine Arts Center moments before the premiere of the award-winning Broadway musical, Hamilton, starring its creator, New York native of Puerto Rican descent Lin-Manuel Miranda, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Friday Jan. 11, 2019. The musical is set to run for two weeks and will raise money for local arts programs. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)(AP/Carlos Giusti)

WASHINGTON — Chef Jose Andres, founder of the nonprofit World Central Kitchen and a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, will open a kitchen in D.C. to feed furloughed federal workers in his hometown.

“We believe that no person should have to go through the pain of not knowing what to feed their children, so we are opening a kitchen,” Andres said, announcing the kitchen in a video he tweeted on Monday. Andrews owns several restaurants in the D.C. area.

His organization, World Center Kitchen, will open the relief kitchen between the White House and the U.S. Capital.

Big news! We will open a kitchen on Pennsylvania Ave this week to join private sector effort to feed federal employees during the shutdown. It’s only fair to feed Americans in need! #ChefsForFeds 👨‍🍳👩‍🍳🥘 Follow @WCKitchen for more details! pic.twitter.com/PRBtlaNug6

— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) January 14, 2019

It will be a symbolic location, according to Andres, and will serve as a place for federal workers to receive meals and recipes to take home.

He also hopes it will serve as a wake up call for lawmakers.

“I hope it will be a call to action to our senators and congressmen, and especially President Trump, to make sure that we end this moment in the history of America where families are about to go hungry,” Andres said.

World Central Kitchen has previously responded in the aftermath of natural disasters around the world, including to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

Andres says the effort to get federal employees back to work requires bipartisan support.

“World Central Kitchen will be there for all Americans,” Andres said.

The kitchen will be located at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW and will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, beginning Wednesday, for federal workers with identification.

Starting this Wednesday 1/16, WCK opens our #ChefsForFeds kitchen and café for FREE hot meals at 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW near the Navy Memorial for all federal employees in need and their families. 🇺🇸🍴 pic.twitter.com/CoKfIh8QME

— WorldCentralKitchen (@WCKitchen) January 14, 2019