How to watch Ron Howard’s documentary about Spanish chef José Andrés

2022′s documentary telling the incredible tale of renowned chef José Andrés and his huge humanitarian effort to provide relief for victims of disasters all over the world has received high critical acclaim worldwide since its release.

The documentary, We Feed People, is available via Disney + after an initial premiere at New York’s SVA Theatre in 2022. Directed by Oscar Award winner Ron Howard, the documentary will focus Andrés’ non-profit World Central Kitchen and the countless people helped.

What is the history of the World Central Kitchen?

The Disney Plus original will trace Andrés’ origins in the kitchen, going back to his first restaurant, Jaleo, in Washington DC in 1993. The chef had a huge influence on American dining in the 1990s but the film focuses more on his philanthropic work for the World Central Kitchen.

Now 12 years old, the organisation began as a direct response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010. He travelled to the country to offer some support but found that he learnt a lot about the locals from the way they cooked food.

From that point on he has provided nutritional aid for people suffering in some of the worst conditions imaginable, but doing so with a real care and attention to the way that the recipients want their food.

Writing on the World Central Kitchen website, Andrés explains: “After a disaster, food is the fastest way to rebuild our sense of community. We can put people back to work preparing it, and we can put lives back together by fighting hunger.”

“Cooking and eating together is what makes us human.”

What is included in the José Andrés documentary?

The Spanish-born chef travelled to Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion, putting himself on the front line of the conflict. But he was not there alone – as is always the case, he worked with his team of World Central Kitchen chefs to help get food to people who were in greatest need.

His network continued to produce roughly 380,000 meals every day to support the Ukrainian people.

This story, along with many others from Andrés’ colourful life, will be covered in We Feed People. However the film’s star is reluctant to take any special credit for his role in the organisation’s astonishing success, focusing on the broader lessons it can teach about the nature of humanity.

“At the end, the only good thing about it is that the best of humanity seems to always show up in the worst of humanity,” he said.

Gaza plea

More recently, Andrés’ focus has turned to Gaza where local people continue to contend with Israeli bombardments as a WCK vessel recently set sail for Palestine with two hundred tons of food and humanitarian aid. The Spaniard also took Joe Biden to task on his social media account pleading with the US President to intervene in the situation as the Netanyahu regime continue to kill children, volunteers and members of the press.