Pelosi, Democrats nominate Jose Andres for Nobel Peace Prize, citing food relief efforts

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats nominated Jose Andres, a D.C.-based chef and restaurateur with global name recognition, and his World Central Kitchen for the Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday.

Mrs. Pelosi of California and Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts pointed to the kitchen’s efforts to feed people during the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the crisis in Gaza.

Mr. Andres and his team have served more than 350 million meals worldwide in crisis zones. The group, which swiftly sends professional cooks to places in need at a moment’s notice, gained particular notice for their work in Haiti after major earthquakes.

“Chef Andrés and his team are nothing short of heroes for humanity — not only conquering hunger but spreading hope,” the Democratic lawmakers wrote to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the prize. “During many dark and difficult moments, the impact of Chef Andrés and World Central Kitchen has been extraordinary.”

Mr. Andres is a native of Spain and owns multiple restaurants in the Washington area. He is a frequent presence on television and was often a travel companion to the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain on his food-and-travel programs.

Mrs. Pelosi and fellow Democrats said the five-person Nobel committee accepts nominations from qualified entities such as “national assemblies.” The prize winners will be announced in October.

Rep. Claudia Tenney, New York Republican, nominated former President Donald Trump for the Peace Prize earlier this week. She cited his work to broker the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and Arab nations, notably Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Andres pulled out of a restaurant deal with Mr. Trump and his Washington hotel in 2015 after Mr. Trump, then a candidate for president, made disparaging remarks about Mexicans. Mr. Andres said the remarks made his project untenable, and a legal fight over the withdrawal ended in a settlement.

The Nobel Committee awarded then-President Barack Obama the Peace Prize in 2009 for “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” It drew a mixed reaction, with some saying it was a reaction to the Bush era rather than a reflection of Mr. Obama’s efforts barely nine months into his first term.