Celebrity Chef Jose Andres opening kitchen to feed federal workers on furlough

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - As thousands of federal employees work without pay or remain on furlough, D.C. entrepreneur and Chef Jose Andres announced Monday that he will be opening a pop-up kitchen to feed government workers.

"We believe that no person should have to go through the pain of knowing when to feed their children," said Andres in a video posted on Twitter Monday.

Andres' organization World Central Kitchen will run the "Chefs for Feds" kitchen and cafe at 701 Pennsylvania Ave. for hungry federal workers and their families.

The restaurateur has become known for his help those in need, including victims of Hurricane Maria in his native home of Puerto Rico.

"We're going to be open for any federal family that needs food. We will have food for you to eat or food for you to take home," said Andres.

The Kitchen and Cafe will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily starting Wednesday, Jan. 16.

Anyone who wants to get involved and help volunteer or partner with the kitchen can email chefsforfeds@wck.org

Andres, who owns several restaurants in the DC-metro area, announced at the beginning of the shutdown that his D.C. locations would provide free sandwich for lunch to federal workers during the shutdown.

Locally, Andres owns America Eat Tavern, Barmini, Beefsteak, China Chilcano, Minibar, Oyamel and Jaleo.

In November, Andres offered then incoming Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a place to stay after she admitted that she could not afford an apartment in Washington, D.C. until her salary kicked in.

Andres was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year by Maryland Congressman John Delaney for work he did to help feed people in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.