The World Central Kitchen organization, led by Spanish chef José Andrés, delivers 35,000 meals a day in communities in Guerrero in the face of the ravages of Hurricane John, which hit the south of the country more than two weeks ago.
The person in charge of World Central Kitchen’s operation in Mexico, Juan Camilo Jiménez, assured EFE this Thursday that in total there are more than 24 restaurants in Acapulco, Chilpancingo and Ometepec, where the food that the group brings to those affected is produced.
“What we produce are foods that people like, that people are used to eating, yesterday we produced some delicious coastal lentils that, for us, was a surprise, the ones here have pineapple, Guerrero chorizo and if we make them in Spain is not going to be the same,” he narrated.
He highlighted that they cook with local people, since 98% of the staff is from Acapulco and they deliver the food to this port, to Chilpancingo, and to municipalities on the Costa Grande and Costa Chica of Guerrero.
“The most important thing for us is how we support a quick recovery, we understand that people must work, we understand that the gastronomic sector is hit after a hurricane, the tourists that Acapulco received, the economy is reduced,” he mentioned.
The havoc remains
The federal government reported on Friday at least 236,636 people affected in Guerrero, which on September 23 was hit by John, a category 3 hurricane that left an estimated 29 dead throughout the country.
Faced with the persistent damage, more than 200 people led by World Central Kitchen work in the kitchens and 80 vans distribute food every day.
Chef Diego Cruz has been participating with the organization since last year, after the devastating Hurricane Otis, which left more than 50 dead on October 25, 2023 in Guerrero.
This year they looked for it again together with a university that provides its facilities, kitchen, and more than 60 young people who carry out their professional internships.
They prepare 3,000 portions daily to deliver to five locations in Acapulco, which include 150 grams of carbohydrates, 150 grams of protein and 125 grams of vegetables.
Read: Acapulco has hotels ready, clean beaches and free roads, says the government of Guerrero
“It is generally beef, pork and chicken, with the various preparations that may be available, regionally here in Mexico. Carbohydrates are rice, beans, lentils, chickpeas, potatoes. That’s where vegetables like pumpkin, carrots, chayotes and so on come from,” he described.
altruistic cuisine
The chef said that it has been a fantastic experience to help, remembering that, after Hurricane Otis, he traveled on a highway to look for supplies in Chilpancingo, capital of Guerrero, and found people blocking the road with cardboard because they had nothing to eat.
The next day, he returned and delivered 200 meals, but it was not enough for all the people who were trained, including three children ages 5, 7, and 9.
“At night I couldn’t sleep from crying, the next day with the team we prepared 700 orders, I spoke to World Central Kitchen and from that moment they authorized those 700 orders and added 300 more orders for 30 days. As a professional who has worked in seven countries, I never in my life thought I would cook altruistically,” he said.
Aranza Alonso, a restaurant manager who has also worked with the association in hurricanes Otis and John, said that her parents instilled in her to help other people, but collaborating with World Central Kitchen has been another level.
“I have been fortunate to go to distribution and the fact of serving food and seeing the faces of people seeing the food, serving it to them and smelling it and saying ‘thank you’, but with their hearts, it has no value, or Well, it’s priceless,” he described.
Read: Mexican economy is going through a period of weakness: Banxico
For now, the delivery of these foods will continue because they assure that it is day by day, since there are still many needs in the state due to the effects and they continue to find communities under water, mud and earth that invaded their houses.
With information from EFE
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