Chef José Andrés' Op-Ed Has Us Reaching for the Tissues
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Chef José Andrés came to the United States 23 years ago, after a stint at famed restaurant El Bulli—and a very different training, on board a ship for the Spanish navy.
He now juggles his ten restaurants in the United States and Puerto Rico with various media appearances (including the position of "culinary cannibal consultant" on the NBC series "Hannibal"—really.)
As of November 13th, Andrés is finally an American citizen, and he took to the Washington Post to write a poignant op-ed about immigration reform.
Regardless of where one falls on the immigration issue, Andrés’ piece is worth a read. He isn’t exactly one for subtlety (the man has a big personality, OK?), so it follows that his sweeping descriptions of the American dream are slightly mawkish. But they’re certainly effective; a few lines may have you reaching for a tissue.
On seeing the U.S. for the first time, from on board a Spanish naval ship, and being amazed by the starry night sky:
"At night, I would often wonder whether that sky was the explanation for the stars on the American flag—put there so the world would know that this is a place of limitless possibility, where anyone from anywhere can strive for a better life."
On his naturalization ceremony:
"The naturalization ceremony in Baltimore, attended by 72 other tearful immigrants from 35 countries, was a moment I had dreamed about since the day I arrived in America with little more than $50 and a set of cooking knives, determined to belong."
On his friend Rodolfo, a fellow immigrant:
"My friend Rodolfo started his career in America tiling the floors at Jaleo, our first restaurant. But he soon began washing dishes and baking bread overnight, sometimes holding two or three jobs while he learned how to cook. And today, that construction worker from Bolivia is a head chef, a restaurant investor, a wonderful father and a proud American citizen."
On Republican opposition to immigration reform:
"I don’t envy Speaker John Boehner’s difficult position. I know he loves this country dearly, and I imagine the hopes he had when sweeping the floor of his father’s Cincinnati bar were not so different than those of a young Spanish sailor who believed that if he loved America, America would love him back."
On tying it all together:
"We may all come from different places and backgrounds, but we still look with awe to that same remarkable sky, and we want nothing more than the simple chance to reach for our own American dream."
