# Celebrity Chef: José Andrés

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2016-11-14
- Length: 27m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-14-celebrity-chef-jose-andres

## Summary

José Andrés, co-founder of Think Food Group, recounts his journey from tending fires for his father's paella to building a 25-restaurant empire in the US. He details his pivotal training under Ferran Adrià at El Bulli, where he learned to innovate through experimentation, and his early struggles opening Haelo in Washington, DC, while adapting Spanish tapas culture for American diners. The episode highlights his strategy of using a dedicated 'Think Food Tank' for R&D and his philosophy of sharing business success with long-term partners to sustain growth.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-14-celebrity-chef-jose-andres#t=0) Introduction: José Andrés and Think Food Group
- [2:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-14-celebrity-chef-jose-andres#t=151) Early Lessons: His Father's Fire and Barcelona Training
- [5:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-14-celebrity-chef-jose-andres#t=357) El Bulli and Ferran Adrià: Innovation through Experimentation
- [10:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-14-celebrity-chef-jose-andres#t=615) Moving to the US: New York and Opening Haelo in DC
- [16:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-14-celebrity-chef-jose-andres#t=978) Adapting Tapas: Solving Sharing Etiquette and Kitchen Management
- [19:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2016-11-14-celebrity-chef-jose-andres#t=1177) Scaling Think Food Group: The Think Food Tank and Partnerships

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Think Food Group (company)
- Haelo (product)
- El Bulli (other)
- Ferran Adrià (other)
- Paradis (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Edouardo Jordan of The Food with Roots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-03-27-founder-feature-edouardo-jordan-of-the-food-with-roots) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 4 - Martin Kastner (9/9)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-04-afterschool-podcast-episode-4-martin-kastner-9-9) (Core77 Podcast)
- [#211 - Acquisition Story: How Hector Saldivar Grew Tia Lupita Foods From a Family Recipe to a Successful Acquisition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-26-211-acquisition-story-how-hector-saldivar-grew-tia-lupita-foods-from-a-family-re) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Dina DiCenso of RIND](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-06-06-founder-feature-dina-dicenso-of-rind) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Taking Networking & Tortillas to the Next Level with Henri Revel, Founder of Eureka Tortilla](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2022-02-28-taking-networking-tortillas-to-the-next-level-with-henri-revel-founder-of-eureka) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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