A world-famous chef who was given a medal of honours by Barack Obama has travelled to Turkey to provide the earthquake survivors with a decent meal.

Jose Ramon Andres Puerta, 53, popularly known only as Jose Andres, from the municipality of Mieres, in Spain, has reportedly begun setting up his kitchen in Turkey’s most affected earthquake areas.

The Spanish-born chef who officially became an American citizen in 2013, gained fame after he founded the non-profit World Central Kitchen (WCK) devoted to providing meals in the wake of natural disasters in 2010.

For his humanitarian accomplishments, Puerta, who operates 25 restaurants across the USA, Mexico and Puerto Rico, was given a National Humanities Medal by Barack Obama in 2015.

The D.C.-based chef reportedly installed relief centres in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria in 2017, food insecure communities during Covid-19, and has been supporting Ukraine ever since Putin’s invasion last year.

He has now once again offered a helping hand to the Turkish people who were devastated by the disastrous 7.7. and 7.8 magnitude earthquakes on Monday, 6th February.

He said in a Twitter post on Tuesday (7th February): “@RTErdogan as we spoke in Madrid few months ago, @WCKitchen is an emergency Food Organization!

“We are already arriving on the ground, and with local partners, we will help the Turkish people in this difficult hour! #ChefsForTurkey.”

He then said in a second message: “Proud to see Firefighters of @spain from Valencia and Zaragoza on my flight to Istanbul and then to Adana to join @WCKitchen teams.

“Amazing initial response of the International community…let’s hope this dogs and others find many more people alive….”

On Wednesday (8th February) he posted: “@WCKitchen we landed in Adana and at 3:00 am we went to deliver Kebabs to one shelter with 150 people and we are going to Mayor’s office to see all the other shelters that we will be helping provide meals!

“And then to Hatay to start food operations there…”