On September 30, Chef José Andrés was somewhere many Americans have found themselves at 12:55 a.m. — a Waffle House.
Andrés, the founder of the nonprofit World Central Kitchen, was on his way to meet his team in Asheville, North Carolina and provide much-needed food relief to people displaced by Hurricane Helene.
But first, he made a pit stop at a Waffle House in Abingdon, Virginia, where he picked up sandwiches for “any first responders” he may find along the way.
“I stopped to buy some ‘mom and dad’ cooking and I’m thinking we need 20 or 30 sandwiches, and I’m sure there’s going to be firefighters, or police, or others who will appreciate the hot sandwich,” Andrés said in a video that he posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
In the video, Andrés marveled at the resilience of Waffle House locations across the country, and of the cooks and employees that keep them open.
“In many emergencies, it’s sometimes the only open place, so I always give big kudos to Waffle House anywhere — even this one is fine, again, there’s flooding everywhere,” Andrés explained.
In the comments section beneath Andrés’ video, others echoed their support.
“[God] bless those Waffle House employees,” one X user wrote. “I’m sure they and their families were also impacted yet they showed up for work. That’s dedication; that’s community.”
“Seeing world-class chef & humanitarian Chef Andrés singing the praises of Waffle House, on the way to helping first responders & disaster victims, is a reminder of the hope that food brings to a devastated community,” wrote another.
After Hurricane Helene tore through the east coast, critical dam breeches and massive floods devastated western North Carolina, leaving the city of Asheville underwater and the town of Chimney Rock completely destroyed.
As of right now, over 120 people have been reported dead, with even more reported missing.
Due to extensive road closures, World Central Kitchen is reaching isolated communities by helicopter and airboat to drop off food to those in need.
Before signing off from Waffle House, Andrés expressed gratitude in the ongoing relief efforts.
“It’s good to see the best people pulling together, not only World Central Kitchen,” Andrés said. “There’s many people and organizations doing God’s work.”
Header image via Chef José Andrés / X and Jon Champaigne / Pexels
