Chef José Andrés has been on the ground in Puerto Rico for over a week, mobilizing aid through his organization, World Central Kitchen, and serving hundreds of thousands of meals to hurricane victims. And he’s not going to let President Trump forget it. In a series of tweets over the weekend, the naturalized American citizen—who’s no stranger to public battles with the current White House—reminded POTUS just what it means to serve your country. Andrés 2020?
If I was.@realDonaldTrump I would activate every Food truck in the country,create blocks of 10,centralize kitchen, 20k meals a day per block pic.twitter.com/ChShkup7Mq
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
The Jaleo restaurateur has been busy making hearty stews and giant pans of paella that feed thousands.
Four paellas firing today at once! Will feed 6,000 people from the paella alone! And it’s delicious!! ? #ChefsForPuertoRico @paellasyalgomas pic.twitter.com/2gZ3MRxg0E
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
Andrés also shared some ideas about how Trump, who’s scheduled to visit Puerto Rico for the first time on Tuesday, might help.
If I was .@realDonaldTrump I would give gas to the 2 bigger bakeries, fully functioning, so their trucks can deliver bread around the island
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
People have asked how things are in #PuertoRico: gas huge challenge & we run on diesel- no electricity. But saw traffic light working today! pic.twitter.com/eCRIKP80p9
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
And also, what not to do.
If I was .@realDonaldTrump I would not Attack a leader that has work non stop for her people pic.twitter.com/EQaTjkMnTV
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
If I was .@realDonaldTrump I will stop attacking the media, with their reporting keeps everyone inform actually helping fix satellites pic.twitter.com/QmdLHR39Z9
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
If I was .@realDonaldTrump I will praise in a tweet the thousands of volunteers organizing on their own to contribute to the efforts pic.twitter.com/tuluT8hLDC
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
Trump has drawn widespread criticism for his response (or lack thereof) to the disaster in the American territory. While Andrés and his team were mobilizing, Trump spent the weekend following Hurricane Maria golfing at his private club in New Jersey. He then attacked San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and the victims who “want everything done for them.”
…Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
…want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2017
Meanwhile, Andrés keeps doing what he knows how to do best: feeding people.
If I was .@realDonaldTrump I would make sure every single hospital had food to feed the employees working 24/7 to keep them going pic.twitter.com/urFKNpSLS9
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
Happy we could deliver 1,000 meals to support San Juan Mayor @CarmenYulinCruz who is working tirelessly for #PuertoRico! #ChefsForPuertoRico pic.twitter.com/RcH7GjPOYJ
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 1, 2017
Quick report from El Tuque near Ponce in south of #PuertoRico: They have no water, no generators. We provided 2,000 meals but more needed. pic.twitter.com/MkarquUf1q
— José Andrés (@chefjoseandres) October 2, 2017
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
