Chef José Andrés has kept himself busy during the pandemic. Chef Andrés’s organization, World Central Kitchen, built a kitchen in Dominica along with Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s organization. He fed the National Guard protecting the Capitol after January 6 and travels to disaster areas to help those suffering from food insecurity. Chef Andrés has become an international treasure. Chef Andrés announced last week that he will be giving vaccinated customers $50 restaurant gift cards to any of the five restaurants in his ThinkFoodGroup restaurant chain around the DC Metro area. He said he wanted to give people an incentive to get vaccinated. Chef Andrés will be giving out the gift cards until the U.S. population is 70% vaccinated. Below is more on the initiative via People:
On Friday, the celebrity chef, 51, announced on Twitter that any customers of his ThinkFoodGroup restaurants that show proof that they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus will receive a $50 gift card. The deal runs only at ThinkFoodGroup establishments in the nation’s capital until 70 percent of the U.S. population is vaccinated.
“Ok! We want everyone vaccinated! Starting tomorrow, until we reach 70% of total population anyone that comes with vaccine papers,that proves that has been vaccinated will get $50 gift certificate for any of @thinkfoodgroup restaurants in the @washingtondc area…,” Andrés wrote.
In a follow-up tweet, Andrés clarified that the promotion is only open to people who got vaccinated this past Saturday and on.
“And the gift certificate is for people that are vaccinated starting tomorrow, ok?” the chef said.
“I would not say it’s a ‘plan,’ but it’s just one more way that a citizen like me can be helping change the minds of people that maybe are not sure yet about getting the vaccine,” he said. “If getting a gift card into one of my restaurants so they can bring their families is the way to convince them to get the vaccine, I think this is my little contribution in my community, in Washington, in Maryland, in Virginia, to make sure that at least we reach 70 percent or above.”
“To win this battle against COVID-19, where my teams in the restaurants can feel protected, where we can one day all take our mask away because we know we are all going to be safe,” added Andrés.
Chef Andrés is one of my favorite humans. His accomplishments these last few years have been nothing short of miraculous. I love that he has become a full fledged humanitarian by providing one of the most basic human needs, food. José could have easily been happy with having successful restaurants but he decided to pay his success forward. I have never been to one of Chef Jose’s restaurants, but going by the food he distributes, I am sure folks who get the $50 credit are in a for a treat. This offer is a win win for everyone. Chef Jose gets to introduce new customers to his restaurants while encouraging people to get vaccinated. It seems giving away free food and beer are the only ways some folks will be persuaded to get vaccinated. It sounds ridiculous but whatever works. We are all ready to get back to some sort of normalcy and if we have to bribe people to do so, then so be it. I look forward to seeing how Chef Jose’s offer pans out.
And the gift certificate if for people that are vaccinated starting tomorrow, ok?😂 https://t.co/2wCdKpiV8u
— Please wear a mask! Do it for the World please… (@chefjoseandres) May 7, 2021
India still needs our help 🇮🇳@WCKitchen is providing meals to people in hospitals across the country that have been devastated by COVID.
Help feed people who need it here: https://t.co/MNpGvlnblE https://t.co/cWnhDJ0m1Z
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) May 13, 2021
This is a great initiative, but I find it deeply concerning that we as a society have to give incentives for people to get vaccinated. You should get vaccinated for your health if you are able to.
Yes! I don’t understand it. In the US you are so privileged to have a surplus of vaccines and yet people have to be bribed to protect themselves and others?! I’m in Canada getting my first vaccination tomorrow and I’m counting down the hours. I see my friends and family in other parts of the world still waiting with no idea as to when then can get vaccinated. Meanwhile in the US they’re flinging beer and doughnuts at people.
I know, it’s driving me crazy, especially while all around the whole people are struggling and dying of this, and most don’t have access to a vaccine yet. I got mine the minute I was able to, and have been trying to contribute to global vaccine outreach groups.
U.S. society in general is deeply concerning, that is for sure. The same factors that gave us one of the worst pandemic records in the world are in play making the vaccination uptake lower than it should be.
Damn it, those of us who rushed to get our vaccines should have waited, LOL. Just kidding, I know this is about encouraging some of those holdouts to get it – it shouldn’t make a difference, but if this offer gets even 50 people to get their vaccine – every jab helps.
My facebook is currently flooded with 12/13/14 year olds getting their vaccines and it makes me so happy, I feel like I did back in January when nurses and doctors started getting theirs. It also makes me happy for teachers, bc I’m sure they are hugely relieved that kids are now able to get vaccinated.
I just signed up my 15 year old. After he gets his, my family of five will be fully vaxxed. It will be a huge relief!
That is fantastic!!!
I’m a grown-@ss adult getting my first dose today (it’s slower going here in Quebec, but we’re getting it done) and I am so excited, lol. My brother got his first dose two days ago, and when I was speaking with my mom she was acting like it was Christmas in May. Her second is scheduled for the end of next month, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets teary-eyed once it’s done.
I am so glad to see teens going for it, and if José Andres’ incentive can get even three people to take the shot, then it’ll be worth it.
I’m 35 and my appointment for my first dose isn’t for another 2 weeks! Just happy to finally be getting it!!
yup! I was able to get my 15YO the first dose yesterday, and scheduled the second dose for June 4. I am so happy that she will be able to start getting her life back soon. The last fifteen months have been so hard for her and her friends.
An old friend of mine has been working at a vaccination mega-site, and said yesterday was PACKED, mostly families with kids. We have a good rate here but it’s been slowing, so that makes me happy to hear.
That’s great. I wish they would hurry up and approve it for younger kids but every older child who gets vaccinated helps reduce community spread and protect those who are still too young to be eligible!
Jose Andreas is the real deal. He deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he could bring the class back to the award to get rid of the Trump era stink. My respect for him is endless.
+1
Yes, he is the real deal. My office is near several of his restaurants (all of which are amazing) and it’s not usual to see him zipping around town on a Bird scooter.
It’s great customer service. More people vaxxed more people go out. More people go out to dinner. If all these industries want bail outs. They need to be creative in getting the economy back on track also.
As someone who lives in DC, I can say that the type of people who still haven’t gotten vaxxed are definitely not the types who would go to a Jose Andreas restaurant. 👀
But at least he’s trying something.
I had to laugh (and agree) with your statement. I lived in DC when Jaleo was the hot, new restaurant (dating myself, lol!). And got to try Zaytina the last time we were in town, pre-pandemic). Everything he has been doing through his non-profit is so admirable!
I just went to Zaytinya last weekend and I can assure you it’s still as good as ever. They have more outdoor seating now than they had indoor seating pre-2020, so they are doing well.
José Andres is DC’s Favorite Adopted Son. He can do no wrong in this city. (Although a few of us who got our vaccinations early are a little bummed by his offer.)
In Ohio they are creating a whole @ss lottery with a million dollar prize to get people to vaccinate, lol! Hey I’m all for whatever works. Here in Detroit they are giving $50 out if you give someone a ride to the vaccine center. Its a shame but looking at the big picture we’ve got to get to 70%. It is a bad look for America though when so much of the world has no vaccines at all.
Chef José Andrés is worth his weight in gold and then some.
The way he was on the ground in Puerto Rico and fed thousands of people – when all that the resident had to offer was rolls of paper towels.
Or the collaboration with Archewell, or his organization now helping out in India.
He seems like a genuinely caring and loving person.
You’d think that protecting yourself, family band community would be enough of an incentive though.