Is José Andrés a Michelin star chef? Spanish Chef awarded with Presidential Medal of Freedom

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, the renowned chef José Andrés received the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civil honor in the United States granted by a president.

Established by President Kennedy in 1963, this award is given to the greatest contributors to civil merit. Considered to be a symbol of national gratitude, this recognition can be given to both United States and international citizens or organizations.

"Today, I’m humbled to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I know that immigrants are bridges…we build the longer tables that connect us all. And I believe we all share a responsibility to create an even better America, one where the American dream can be achieved by everyone…regardless of what you look like or where you come from," Andrés wrote in a social media post.

Is José Andrés a Michelin star chef? Everything we know about the Spanish chef as he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Born in Mieres, Spain José Andrés moved to New York City during the 1990s and started working in midtown Manhattan at an outpost of a popular restaurant. Throughout the years, Andrés worked at various restaurants till he finally opened his own restaurant named Minibar.

As Minibar started to get more popular, Andrés began to open restaurants across various cities in the United States. Currently, he owns a total of 31 restaurants, which include food trucks, beefsteaks, and the Michelin-starred restaurant Minibar. Located in Washington D.C., Minibar serves one of the top dining experiences in the country.

According to the restaurant, at Minibar each bite is designed to thrill the senses of the people and present them with something unexpected. The creation of food at the Minibar combines art, science, tradition, and technique in order to deliver an unimaginable progressive tasting menu to consumers.

José Andrés is the only chef in the world to have a two-star Michelin restaurant as well as four Bib Gourmands. In 2010, Andrés founded World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization that works toward eradicating hunger and provides food relief.

The organization has previously organized meals in several countries, including Zimbabwe, Peru, Uganda, Cuba, and Cambodia, among others, and provided aid for different countries during national disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods, and at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2017, José Andrés and his team, in collaboration with #ChefsForPuertoRico, provided over 3.8 million meals to the residents of Puerto Rico after the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria.

"Chefs like me feed the few, but our destiny is to feed the many. To be an army of goodness where a plate of food becomes a plate of hope…a light in dark times. Together, we can change the world through the power of food," Andrés stated.

Moreover, with the help of George Washington University, José Andrés started the Global Food Institute which works towards transforming people's lives by reshaping food's role in creating a healthier world. George Washington University president Ellen M. Granberg congratulated Andrés for receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom award.

"This extraordinary recognition celebrates not only his remarkable achievements in culinary innovation but also his tireless humanitarian work and unwavering commitment to addressing global food insecurity," she said in a statement.

Throughout his career, José Andrés has received multiple awards and recognition both for his restaurants and for his humanitarian works. The James Beard Foundation named him the Best Chef (Mid-Atlantic) in 2003 and Humanitarian of the Year in 2018; he was also named among the top 100 Most Influential People by TIME Magazine in 2012 and 2018.

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In 2015, José Andrés was also awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Obama, and this year the Presidential Medal of Freedom added another feather to his cap.

"I owe this tremendous honor to so many people who have shown me the true meaning of empathy, of generosity, of putting yourself at the service of others. To my family, my friends, my partners…and to every cook and chef around the world who inspires me by feeding humanity every day and moving us forward…I say: gracias. Thank you!" Andrés wrote on social media.

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