José Andrés (Website), the chef, restaurateur, and humanitarian behind World Central Kitchen (Website), will speak at Rollins College’s Warden Arena on Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30 p.m., as part of a signature event from the Winter Park Institute (Website), presented by Orlando Health. During the event, Andrés will take part in a conversation reflecting on his career, leadership, and what it means to act when others need help most, according to the official press release.
Andrés helped popularize tapas in the United States through his restaurant Jaleo and now serves as founder and executive chairman of José Andrés Group, which operates restaurants across the country and internationally, including Jaleo at Disney Springs. He’s earned the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Chef award, been named twice to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. He is also the author of We Fed an Island, which chronicles his work feeding communities in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
In 2010, Andrés founded World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that delivers meals to communities affected by disasters and humanitarian crises around the world.
The event is part of a broader Winter Park Institute initiative built around Andrés’ visit. A WPI Reflect Forum on October 26 at The Ravenous Pig restaurant will bring together local business and philanthropy leaders to discuss how the themes from Andrés’ talk can apply to Central Florida. The Institute is also running Pages for the Ages, an intergenerational community reading program centered on We Fed an Island, and WPI and Orlando Health plan to make a philanthropic investment in Special Hearts Farm inspired by the ideas raised during the Experience.
Tickets are available HERE for purchase, and they start at $25.
