World Central Kitchen from Chef José Andrés Feeds Medical Workers in Las Vegas

José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen arrived in Las Vegas on Monday to help serve meals to health-care professionals during the coronavirus pandemic. The chef teamed up with the Sahara Las Vegas, where he has Bazaar Meats, and the Nevada Restaurant Association to provide 300 meals per day through Friday with the goal of feeding more than 1,500 medical workers at 10 OptumCare Nevada health-care locations across Las Vegas.

“We at World Central Kitchen live by the mantra that a nourishing meal in a time of crisis is much more than a plate of food. We believe it provides, hope, dignity and is a sign that someone cares about you and that you are not alone,” Nate Mook, CEO of World Central Kitchen, says in a press statement.

Bazaar Meat executive chef Alex Pitts leads the food preparation efforts with the culinary team at Sahara in Las Vegas for the World Central Kitchen.

Andrés launched his World Central Kitchen in 2010 after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti. The efforts there included installation of clean cookstoves in the region. When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017, Andrés added disaster relief as part of the nonprofit’s official mission.

The chef won the Humanitarian of the Year award from the James Beard Foundation for his food relief efforts in 2018.

The Sahara, along with every other casino in Nevada, closed on March 17 following a directive from Gov. Steve Sisolak to suspend operations of nonessential businesses, including casinos, dine-in restaurants, and bars, an order that stays in place through April 30.

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