Chef José Andrés Shines Light on Power of Comida, Comunidad and Unexpected Heroism at SXSW

*Chef José Andrés was inducted to the SXSW Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Photo by Mari G. Hernandez/Special to Austin Vida*

The internationally recognized chef and restaurateur José Andrés was honored at South by Southwest on Tuesday with an induction into the SXSW Hall of Fame for his passionate advocacy and dedicated culinary work.

The Spanish-American chef, known for providing meals during humanitarian crises, shared how food and art connect people.

“Coming to things like this I love, because I become a part of the community that makes me better and we all make each other better,” Andrés said as he accepted his award.

The session held at the Hilton Austin Downtown, also featured a panel discussion with comic book writer Steve Orlando and Vice President and Executive Editor of Marvel Comics, Nick Lowe. Panelists discussed themes of heroism in the everyday person and how a small act can make the world a little less grim.

“It’s the key to remember that we all have great power,” Lowe said. “We might not be able to stick to buildings or lift a car, but there’s always something we can all do.”

“Feeding Dangerously” is a graphic novel featuring Andrés and the heroic work of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a nonprofit organization founded by Andrés that has helped feed cities and countries worldwide. From natural disasters to war and famine, WCK has been on the frontlines. Since its creation in 2010, the organization has provided over 600 million meals.

“We are next to the voiceless and next to the people suffering the most every day,” Andrés said.

The story, co-written by Andrés and Orlando, shares WCK’s mission and hope of the human spirit through food. The comic is illustrated by Alberto Ponticelli, and depicts the organization helping around the world. It highlights the people who work in the kitchen who aim to bring hope with every meal.

“We write superhero stories about this idea that people help because they can, not because they benefit from it,” Orlando said. “Superheroes are also doing just the best they can and as much as they can.”

The novel, which took five years to create and was released in November 2023, aimed to cover the bigger picture of what happens after catastrophes, such as Hurricane Maria’s aftermath in Puerto Rico in 2017.

However, the world could not wait for “Feeding Dangerously” as it was desperately needing a sign of hope, Orlando said.

“As we were in production, the world could not really work with us on a schedule,” Orlando joked. “Catastrophes continued to happen with unprecedented challenges.”

The panel wrapped up by discussing how someone can find heroism in the everyday person and how attendees can become heroes themselves. Orlando provided an example in Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, who is seen as an ordinary boy to some but has extraordinary powers that he shares with the world.

Much like Spider-Man, Andrés became a hero in his own story and in the stories of the lives he touched by helping one meal at a time.

“We have superheroes every single day right now that are doing it with no lights on them,” Andrés said. “Thanks to them, the world is a little better place.”

MORE INFO:

“Feeding Dangerously” by José Andrés and Steve Orlando

feedingdangerously.com

*$5 of every sale through the site above will be donated directly to World Central Kitchen