Dear José Andrés. I am all for culinary diplomacy, having started our own Eat Spain Up! initiative years ago for Spain. I do think, however, that the name selected for the group "American Culinary Corps" is misleading and can backfire. The word "Corps" is too often associated with "Peace Corps" and makes people mistakenly believe that this Culinary Diplomacy initiative has some sort of altruistic/egalitarian/relief approach. This is obviously not the case so, for those making that assumption, the initiative might seem like a bit of a scam (or, at the very least, a let down).
Being a native Spanish speaker, I associate "Culinary Corps" in this scenario with "Diplomatic Corps" (not sure if that's how it's used in English, I mean "Cuerpo Diplomático"), which is obviously the meaning that they probably intended, but I've heard a number of complains about the non-relief approach in just a few minutes, which makes me believe that the general understanding of "Corps" is clearly not the one that this group of chefs will have.
As I said, I'm all for the initiative, but perhaps we should make sure that we call it what it is.
As a JBF bootcamp alum, WCK volunteer in multiple states, and Founder of La Soupe, I have dedicated the last 10 years to food justice in Ohio. Please know there is nothing more important to me at this time in my career and I would welcome and work in this arena in our State. I hope to be asked to serve even thought I was not part of class 1! I am ready, willing.and able
This is nice but diplomats already have plenty of chances to gather around tables of beautiful and expensive food. Please focus most of your efforts on feeding needy people in crises. They don't have another choice. Bless you for your good work.
I can’t say it enough: thank you for the important work you continue to do in bringing people together and healing through food.
Jose Andres for Secretary of a new and needed Department of Food!
Dear José Andrés. I am all for culinary diplomacy, having started our own Eat Spain Up! initiative years ago for Spain. I do think, however, that the name selected for the group "American Culinary Corps" is misleading and can backfire. The word "Corps" is too often associated with "Peace Corps" and makes people mistakenly believe that this Culinary Diplomacy initiative has some sort of altruistic/egalitarian/relief approach. This is obviously not the case so, for those making that assumption, the initiative might seem like a bit of a scam (or, at the very least, a let down).
Being a native Spanish speaker, I associate "Culinary Corps" in this scenario with "Diplomatic Corps" (not sure if that's how it's used in English, I mean "Cuerpo Diplomático"), which is obviously the meaning that they probably intended, but I've heard a number of complains about the non-relief approach in just a few minutes, which makes me believe that the general understanding of "Corps" is clearly not the one that this group of chefs will have.
As I said, I'm all for the initiative, but perhaps we should make sure that we call it what it is.
As a JBF bootcamp alum, WCK volunteer in multiple states, and Founder of La Soupe, I have dedicated the last 10 years to food justice in Ohio. Please know there is nothing more important to me at this time in my career and I would welcome and work in this arena in our State. I hope to be asked to serve even thought I was not part of class 1! I am ready, willing.and able
This is nice but diplomats already have plenty of chances to gather around tables of beautiful and expensive food. Please focus most of your efforts on feeding needy people in crises. They don't have another choice. Bless you for your good work.