Chef José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen Partners With Local Restaurants to Feed Houstonians Impacted by Power Outages

As power outages and chilly temperatures continue in Houston, a group of local chefs teamed up with chef José Andrés’s culinary nonprofit World Central Kitchen to feed Houstonians in need on Wednesday.

World Central Kitchen announced on Wednesday night that it had partnered up with Houston barbecue stalwart Burns Original BBQ to distribute 700 smoked meat sandwiches to residents living in Houston-area senior living homes who were without power. East End Thai eatery Street to Kitchen contributed 400 meals to the effort, preparing dishes for people housed at Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture, which has functioned as an impromptu shelter during the storm.

Sasha Grumman, the former Rosalie executive chef and contestant on the forthcoming 18th season of Bravo’s Top Chef, also helped out with the efforts, as did Korean fried chicken spot Seoulside Wings. In all, the chefs were able to serve more than 2,000 meals to individuals who were impacted by the power outages.

This isn’t the first time that Andrés and his nonprofit have showed up in Texas to help during times of crisis. In 2017, Andrés recruited culinary professionals from all over the state to come to Houston to cook for people impacted by Hurricane Harvey. In the aftermath of Hurricane Laura in 2020, World Central Kitchen organized volunteers to prepare fresh meals for storm victims in Beaumont.

Houston restaurants have also been working independently to hand out food during this crisis. On Wednesday, Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland handed out free smoked meat sandwiches to people in need, while food truck Boombox Taco served more than 800 free tacos to apartment-dwellers in Southwest Houston who didn’t have power or water.

When the bad weather first hit, Third Ward restaurant Turkey Leg Hut handed out hot meals to people sheltering at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Downtown Houston, while beer bar Flying Saucer collected and distributed more than 150 coats to unhoused people.

World Central Kitchen is back on the ground in Houston today, and will be providing meals until the power crisis is resolved. Follow the organization on Instagram for more details.

• Jose Andres Recruits Chefs From Texas And Beyond to Assist With Hunger Relief Efforts [EHOU]
• Houston Chefs Are Raising Money, Collecting Supplies to Feed Hurricane Laura Victims [EHOU]