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The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A captivating collection of stories and recipes from renowned chefs, local cooks, and celebrity friends of José Andrés’s beloved nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK), which feeds communities impacted by natural disasters and humanitarian crises; with a foreword from Stephen Colbert.

In their first cookbook, WCK shares recipes inspired by the many places they’ve cooked following disasters as well as inspiring narratives from the chefs and volunteers on the front lines. Photographs captured throughout the world highlight community and hope while stunning food photography showcases the mouthwatering recipes. 

Each chapter reflects a value of the organization. “Urgency” focuses on food that can be eaten on the go, including the Lahmajoun Flatbread served after a devastating explosion rocked Beirut in 2020. In “Hope,” readers will find soups, stews, and comforting meals such as Ukrainian Borsch served to families living through an unthinkable invasion and Chicken Chili Verde prepared for California firefighters. Famous WCK supporters have shared recipes too, like Breakfast Tacos from Michelle Obama and a Lemon Olive Oil Cake from Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex . Other contributors include Marcus Samuelsson , Ayesha Curry , Reem Assil , Brooke Williamson , Emeril Lagasse , Tyler Florence , Guy Fieri , Sanjeev Kapoor , and Eric Adjepong .

The World Central Kitchen Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope is a celebration of dignity and perseverance—and about building longer tables, not higher walls. All author proceeds from The World Central Kitchen Cookbook will be used to support World Central Kitchen’s emergency response efforts.

304 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2023

227 people are currently reading
678 people want to read

About the author

José Andrés

43 books127 followers
José Ramón Andrés Puerta, más conocido como José Andrés, es un cocinero español-estadounidense. Desde 2013 tiene también la nacionalidad estadounidense.

Chef/Owner of ThinkFoodGroup, star of the "Made In Spain" television series, and culinary creator and advocate.

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5 stars
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107 (29%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Carol.
860 reviews568 followers
Read
May 15, 2024
Cookbooks are so varied and what appeals to one person may not appeal to another. I love to browse those that have stories to tell in addition to recipes, with good directions and have enticing photographs of the food. A huge plus is given to recipes I might actually cook.

The World Central Kitchen Cookbook: Feeding Humanity, Feeding Hope Author, José Andrés seemed more advanced than the recipes I might cook. I listened to the podcast Best Public Libraries and Two New Books — 20 October 2023 and though intrigued by the topic of best public libraries, I found myself hooked by this book. It may not have been my usual choice even though it sounded so interesting and read worthy.

The decision maker:
All author proceeds from The World Central Kitchen Cookbook will be used to support World Central Kitchen's emergency response efforts.

I can not say this better then this quote from the back cover of the book.
”The World Central Kitchen Cookbook showcases captivating recipes created for home kitchens and inspirational stories from chefs and local cooks who have fed millions of people impacted by disasters around the world. Their experiences highlight perseverance, resilience, community-and above all, hope.”

There is so much to love here. How this WCK came to be, their mission, the unique content headings of offerings, the Foreword, the opening note from José, the chefs and local cooks who tell their stories with such enthusiasm, the photography, and the variety of the recipes themselves.

Yes, I have made a couple of the recipes with success, Briam pg. 199, and Lemon Olive Cake, pg. 269
If you are a cookbook lover or need a gift for your favorite cook, give this one a try.
27 reviews
September 27, 2023
Not just a cookbook! A treatise on being a good person in a chaotic world. Inspirational stories along with excellent recipes for comfort food from around the world!
Profile Image for Jayme.
430 reviews21 followers
October 29, 2023
Beautiful stories, beautiful pictures, beautiful recipes, and beautiful for the soul. ❤️❤️❤️
Profile Image for Jess.
724 reviews5 followers
October 14, 2023
Love this. So much more than a cookbook. Great insight into WCK and the amazing work they do around the world. Each recipe in this book tells a story.
Profile Image for Aileen.
11 reviews
December 16, 2023
You do not expect a cookbook to make you cry, but this one is filled with the stories of WCK and the incredible work they do around the world with incredible people. The recipes are from all over the world, each with a special story, each reflective of the area they came from. There is no ingredient too humble, no recipe that is does not comfort, no story that does not make you believe in humanity again.

Where ever there's a fight so that hungry people may eat ... we will be there.
30 reviews5 followers
September 20, 2023
As a cookbook, this is a multicultural guide to delicious foods around the world. It functions more as an example of what regular people can do to help their fellow humans in need. The work done by World Central Kitchen shows the best of what we can be as a society. Please take the time to read the heartbreaking and yet hopeful stories shared in this book. I teared up several times.
Profile Image for Kerry Croucier.
1,034 reviews13 followers
July 11, 2024
When I first picked up THE WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN COOKBOOK: FEEDING HUMANITY, FEEDING HOPE by José Andrés & The World Central Kitchen with Sam Chapple-Sokol, I knew it was an important book, not just a cookbook. I started reading, yes reading, it and realized that I didn’t have the time it deserved to do it justice. So, after flipping through the abundance of mouthwatering recipes, I reluctantly put it aside. As I watched the world events unfold, hearing tidbits about the World Central Kitchen coming to the aid of people in need. I kept eyeing the cookbook, anxious to get back to it. I was finally able to get back to it when I had several hours of uninterrupted time (yes, it was my road-trip reading!) and all I can say is, WOW.
This is not just a cookbook. Each section represents a part of the WCK mission statement: EMPATHY, URGENCY, ADAPTION, HOPE, COMMUNITY, RESILIENCE, and JOY, with the final section hosting BUILDING BLOCKS for the recipes. Each section starts with an introduction, explaining the part of the mission statement, why it’s important, and how it shapes what the WCK does when it is needed, why the recipes fit into the category, and where they originated. There are also other stories interspersed with the recipes in each section, and these real-life stories *almost* overshadow the recipes. I have long admired what José Andrés has been doing with World Central Kitchen, but after reading this, I am more in awe of him and all those who are a part of the mission.
The recipes are well-written, and you can feel the comfort radiate from each. They have been scaled down for easy family prep, but you can see how easy it would be to prepare them for the thousands who need them. There are recipes from well-known supporters and volunteers, as well as recipes from the people and chefs they work with on site. It is easy to see how they work for the mission. It’s difficult to choose a few standouts from the many, but the Pepián de Pollo and Pressure Cooker Guatemalan Red Beans with Beef Short Ribs were first on my list, as well as the Arepas (yes, there is a pattern, I love Latin American foods) are tops on my list. There is also the popular (in the trenches) Chicken Chili Verde. Marcus’s Spiced Catfish Sandwiches, Robert’s Green Chile Posole, and Soupe Joumou are also at the top of my list, although my list basically includes almost every recipe.
This cookbook will have a place of honor in my kitchen, with different recipes joining my weekly meal rotations. As an added bonus, all profits from the sales go toward supporting the mission of the World Central Kitchen. Even if you don’t cook, buy it, read it. It’s amazing, all around.
Thank you to Clarkson Potter for the opportunity to read a gifted copy of the cookbook. All opinions are my own and freely given.
Profile Image for Honest Mabel.
1,252 reviews42 followers
February 25, 2024
it’s good but

The book isn’t designed for digital copies this is a book that also should have alternative options such as the first recipe says a specific kind of beef it takes a second for the author of this to list another simple cut for every day users
Profile Image for Ruth Lam.
24 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2024
Not just a cookbook but an encouraging read about people who serve those in war, disaster and in need of a hot meal and some love and tender care! Inspirational and creative!
Profile Image for Robin.
201 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2024
The recipes are okay, but the stories behind WCK make this book worth reading. You'll be inspired by what Jose Andres and his team have to say about community, resilience, empathy, hope, and joy, and love.
Profile Image for Jenn.
5,019 reviews77 followers
July 13, 2025
We became aware of WCK from Top Chef and then learned more after the Gaza attack. My kid has requested charity donations for their birthdays for the past 5 or so years and last year, their request was WCK. So, I saw this gorgeous cookbook that was also a bunch of stories about the organization and picked it up.

Let me be honest: the recipes are mostly really long and full of ingredients you aren't going to find readily available. But the stories were lovely and I very much enjoyed those. However, since this is supposed to be primarily a cookbook, I took off a star for the recipes being so inaccessible.
Profile Image for LAPL Reads.
615 reviews211 followers
February 1, 2024
Chef José Andrés tells us, “This book is dedicated to everyone who understands the power of a hot meal in a time of need.”

This is the first cookbook from the World Central Kitchen, aka the WCK. The organization was the inspiration of José Andrés, professional chef and humanitarian. “Since 2010 the World Central Kitchen has cooked hundreds of millions of fresh, nourishing meals for people impacted by natural disasters and other crises." In this book the WCK shares recipes inspired by many global areas where disasters hit, and stories from chefs, volunteers and the communities that were served. There are recipes from a former First Lady of the United States and one from a Duchess.

Even though there are recipes in this book, Chef José Andrés wants us to know it is more than a cookbook. Where there are natural disasters or those made by people, that is where the WCK team will go and set up tables and cook. “You see there is no one right way to feed people in the aftermath of a disaster. It’s a way of listening and learning, of thinking, and of acting in the world that we are sharing in a million and one ways with this book.” As a professional chef, he never expected there to be a demand for the recipes that were created as part of a disaster relief nonprofit. The recipes are important, but he thinks that “even more important are the stories, histories, and moments of cultural understanding that are behind each recipe and meal we serve." The Ukrainian Easter Bread recipe is an example of a shared heritage going back generations. "This recipe came from our Ukraine country director, Yuliya Stefanyuk, who learned it from her grandmother, who learned it from her grandmother." He is encouraging all of us “to get motivated by this book . . . Whether it means you are cooking a meal for a neighbor in need, volunteering at your local food pantry, joining our Relief Team . . . or simply making dinner for your family and learning about where that dish came from.”

The recipes, stories and actions are organized in chapters based on the values of the WCK: empathy, urgency, adaptation, hope, community, resilience, joy. There are cooking notes; the World Central Kitchen Pantry; numerous cooking tips; a comprehensive index; and full-page color photographs of food and people.

Reviewed by Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction
Profile Image for Bookworm.
2,323 reviews98 followers
October 16, 2023
I saw that the WCK was coming out with a cookbook and I was all about it. If you're not familiar, José Andrés, the renowned chef, started the nonprofit after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

Since then, they've responded to various emergencies around the world (from natural disasters such as hurricanes to the 2019 government shut down to serving a cruise ship under quarantine early on in the COVID pandemic). This is a collection of recipes inspired by the dishes served, contributors, celebrity contributions, etc.

That's pretty much it. It's pretty formulaic: each section represents a value of the organization and you get the recipe with some information about the story behind it, plus some info about various chefs that work with WCK and how the dish came to be included in the book. I haven't tried to actually cook any of them, but to a layperson they seem fairly accessible (except maybe scaling them for really large crowds, etc.).

That's pretty much it. Personally this cookbook (for me) was really more about celebrating and supporting the work of the WCK, the chefs who have volunteered, the other volunteers, Andrés, etc. Depending on your POV, you may find it is not for you or really something to look at but maybe not to try for yourself.

Borrowed from the library and will probably buy a copy here or there to donate.
Profile Image for Bajidc.
769 reviews5 followers
October 24, 2023
It's not often you come across a book that exudes empathy and hope, introduces you to cuisines from around the war-torn, disaster-stricken world, and teaches you how to cook for 100 firefighters. The title of the chapter "Sharing Joy in a Brutal World" sums it up. José Andrés is a powerhouse and his "World Central Kitchen Cookbook" is the only kind of book I want to read right now: a compilation of amazing recipes with heart, effusiveness, and compassion. Also: Classic Mac and Cheese with Beef Rendang? Don't mind if I do.

Superb blurb:
A note for anyone concerned about the cavalier use of the word paella here: to a hammer, everything is a nail; to a paella pan, everything is a paella. You may have learned from none other than José Andrés that the one true paella is paella Valencia, the revered rice dish from coastal Spain that includes chicken, rabbit, and beans. Everything else, to a Valencian, is an arroz con cosas -- "rice with things."
Profile Image for Reading Fool.
1,112 reviews
September 15, 2023
I admire Jose Andres immensely - for his success as a chef, but even more for his philanthropic efforts to feed people who have been affected by devastating natural disasters. It's heartbreaking that his organization, World Central Kitchen (WCK), has plenty to serve. This book contains recipes from many of the places WCK has aided. It is an international cookbook with interesting flavors, unique ingredients, and cultural traditions. I have tried only one recipe to date, Braised Pork Al Pastor, which was delicious. I was mostly impressed by the stories and essays and so far have read this book more than used it for its recipes. I intend to cook from it but for now I'm pleased to learn from it. This would make a great coffee table book so guests can read it and learn. Clarkson Potter provided me with a free copy of this book; the opinions are my own.
1,249 reviews9 followers
September 6, 2025
For those who don't know what World Central Kitchen is/does, this book is a great introduction to a really great cause. Led by Chef Jose Andres this non-profit organization is not political and does not take sides. Their goal is to feed people. The 2017 Puerto Rico hurricane gave them publicity and a real sense of purpose. They've been everywhere they're needed from fires in California to floods in Kentucky. They were everywhere during the pandemic. They've been in numerous countries that have experienced floods, volcanoes and other natural disasters. They are in Ukraine now and in Gaza gearing up to serving 1,000,000 meals every day. There are great behind-the-scenes details and great recipes. I'm excited to find a delicious-sounding Al Pastor pork recipe and I'm intrigued by a Beef Rending recipe from Western Sumatra. A really strongly recommended book.
Profile Image for Carol.
1,324 reviews
May 28, 2024
While I read many cookbooks cover to cover very few have found their way to my Goodreads reviews. The World Central Kitchen Cookbook is an exception. The recipes are from many different countries and cultures but I saved only 9 of them because many feel beyond my ability to execute, or find ingredients. People in or near large cities will have better luck with the ingredients, I suspect. The narratives in this cookbook captivated me. They included histories, cultures, traditional foods, and local chefs. They expressed empathy, hope, and joy. Refugees and Migration, pages 100-106, brought me to tears. There are many wonderful photographs of prepared recipes and of The World Central Kitchen in action.
Profile Image for Spencer Mize.
144 reviews2 followers
September 27, 2023
A beautiful book, in both story and design. So much more than a cookbook, it's a meditation on what it means to help people during their absolute worst moments. This book triggered a long-dormant desire to do emergency aid work - perhaps that'll be my next career.

One minor niggle - I've made only one dish so far, but the ratios of water and flour on the flatbread was way off, and it didn't make nearly as many as promised. Not sure if it's a fluke, but the rest of the dish was splendid so I'm going to assume it is.
Profile Image for False.
2,437 reviews10 followers
December 16, 2023
An in-depth history of how the World Central Kitchen began (inspiration: D.C. Central Kitchen) and how it has evolved to feeding the peoples of the world, not just through natural disasters, but also wars. All recipes offer measurements to feed 4-6, and some are calculated to feeding 100.

Recipes are simple, using easy to acquire ingredients, with an emphasis on how the World kitchen uses local ingredients found where they land. The recipes are from all over the world. Certainly a worthy read (and cause) and a chance to explore tastes that might be outside your normal range.
Profile Image for Deeanna.
199 reviews1 follower
November 10, 2024
I got this book from the library and have kind of had it sitting on my shelf for a while, thumbing through it occasionally. Then, the day after that awful awful election, having spent the majority of it crying and being unable to do much else, I picked it up again. This is a book made of help and hopefulness. Usually if there's more words than recipes in a cookbook I skip past all the words and go straight to the recipes. But I actually gave this one an honest read. The helpers ARE out there guys. Maybe it's time we all go see the world and do something worthwhile ourselves.
Profile Image for Lorraine Sulick-Morecraft.
Author 4 books11 followers
September 29, 2023
Comforting, uplifting and inspiring- every recipe and the story of the team of people who rushed to disaster sites to feed the survivors. My personal experience in the Abaco Islands before, during and after Hurricane Dorian in 2019, had me running to my kitchen to cook two recipes first: "Fire Engine" and "Stewed Fish." Each bite a grateful memory. Thank you always Chef Jose Andres and your worldwide team!
Profile Image for OvercommuniKate.
864 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2024
The recipes are good and provide good insight. For example, the part about why a lot of recipes for griot still include steps for when using brined pork even though we now use fresh pork was really interesting.

Docking stars because the organization style makes no sense. It's not organized by country or type of dish, but instead on more nebulous concepts like "quick" or "dishes to support food producers."
Profile Image for Leslie.
441 reviews5 followers
February 28, 2024
I'm not in the habit of reading cookbooks. Using them, absolutely, but not reading the rest of the text. This was an exception.

I loved, loved, loved this book. Seeing how The World Central Kitchen came to be was so interesting and encouraging. I have a special place in my heart for Haiti, and I appreciated seeing their response there after different catastrophic events. Also, I can't wait to make some of the recipes.
Profile Image for Sarah W Bowers.
605 reviews8 followers
April 5, 2024
"Wherever there's a fight so hungry people may eat, we'll be there." (Adapted from the Grapes of Wrath)
A beautiful book filled with love, passion, commitment, community, and food. I wept when reading the stories and recipes from World Central Kitchen. These are true heroes and knowing more about their selfless service makes the tragedy of the 7 aid workers even more horrific. I will be adding this to my permanent collection.
932 reviews3 followers
November 21, 2023
First off WCK has done so much good in the world. I donate what I can and wish I could do more. Buying this cookbook was my way to help as well. I love to cook. I’ve seen the food WCK feeds people in need and wish I had the recipe. This cookbook is a dream for me. The recipes I’ve tried so far are delicious! Thank you WCK for this cookbook! It is wonderful!!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,301 reviews9 followers
December 2, 2023
A cookbook that hopefully will motivate you to be more like Jose Andres. Jose has been showing up after disasters occur and he feeds people. He wants you to feed people too. Your family. Or your friends. Or strangers. Volunteer at a food bank or another charity. And by all means, try some of these recipes.
Profile Image for Cherie.
4,003 reviews37 followers
December 7, 2023
I first heard of WCK via Deb Perelman, and immediately donated to them as they worked towards their relief efforts in Gaza and so many other places. Basically, World Central Kitchen goes to areas with crisis, war, natural disaster, and provides food. While many of the recipes were meat-heavy, the stories in this book were really interesting. Beautifully photographed and laid out.
Profile Image for Kiki.
1,174 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2024
Chef Jose Andres is such an amazing inspiration! Many of these recipes use specialty ingredients; however I found several of interest that I should be able to make with readily accessible ingredients so excited to keep trying the recipes. The stories told throughout the book were also really interesting.
Profile Image for Ryn.
151 reviews4 followers
September 27, 2023
This is not just a cookbook by a famous chef. This is a moment to take in culture through food. It is a living record of tragedy and food's power to unite people. Please, if you are thinking of buying a cookbook book buy this one and help feed people.
Profile Image for Blythe.
305 reviews
November 7, 2023
The recipes seem a bit challenging but I love that they come from around the world and I can probably make them work. I am a huge WCK and Jose Andres fan and am glad to have this book for my own reference and to help WCK.
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