Chef Andrew Zimmern, known for hosting “Bizarre Foods” for 22 seasons on the Travel Channel, understands the power of food as a way to bring people together — perhaps better than anyone.
And in his home state of Minnesota, bringing people together has never been more vital.
In a recent video, Zimmern shared that he was volunteering at Soup for You Cafe, serving meals to people in need.
As intense, violent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have multiplied across the state, vulnerable communities are left feeling afraid to leave the house, which in turn, leaves them food insecure.
“Food has always been my way in. It brings us together, but it also reminds us of our responsibility to one another,” Zimmern shared on Instagram.
“Moments like this reinforce how powerful small, local efforts really are. If you have the time, the resources, or even just your voice, find an organization in your own community and lend a hand. It matters. Every single time.”
Zimmern has long been a champion of human rights and fights to reduce food insecurity at home and abroad. He is a vocal supporter of organizations like the World Food Programme, Independent Restaurant Coalition, World Central Kitchen, No Kid Hungry, and more.
And amid ICE’s occupation of Minnesota, he continues to be an advocate for local restaurants.
On Thursday he shared that his entire office of over 20 people dined out at Quang Restaurant on Eat Street, about a block from where Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents over the weekend.
Chef Andrew Zimmern and his team out to lunch at a local Minneapolis restaurant. Photo courtesy of Andrew Zimmern/Instagram
“Our city restaurants are safe, and they need our support now more than ever … the reason, amongst many, to prioritize the restaurant community is because they are the ones that are feeding and taking care of thousands, many thousands who have been traumatized, abused, detained, had families torn apart, and so on,” Zimmern wrote.
“Restaurants are our cultural hubs. They need to thrive and be safe spaces to gather.”
In addition to uplifting efforts to support restaurants and feed neighbors, Zimmern has also shared his feelings about the ICE crackdown in his home state.
In a recent video, he opened up about moving to Minnesota about 34 years ago and how it was pivotal in his sobriety journey.
“I owe this state a debt I can never repay,” Zimmern said. “Which is why I’m even more outraged than most at the events of the last six [to] seven weeks. The presence of thousands of ICE agents has brought chaos and violence to the communities here in Minnesota that have left a growing number of my neighbors, including U.S. citizens, afraid to leave their homes. People are stranded and hungry. This cannot be allowed to go on.”
He urged followers to visit Stand With Minnesota, a directory with hundreds of organizations accepting donations to protect vulnerable communities in the area. He also called for an end to “Operation Metro Surge,” which is what the Trump administration has called ICE’s occupation of Minnesota.
“Minnesota is fortunate to have a strong and resilient hunger relief network, especially in times of crises such as this,” Zimmern continued. “However, with so many Minnesotans staying home for fear of being racially profiled, unlawfully detained, separated from their families, or worse, we’ve had to scramble to find new ways to get emergency food to where it’s needed most.”
He added that while community members are showing up to help one another, “ICE has made it harder to get food to hungry neighbors,” noting that the federal agents have reportedly followed volunteers doing food deliveries and blocking entrances to food shelters.
“Let me be very clear about this: every Minnesotan, every human being deserves to eat,” Zimmern concluded. “That should not be a controversial statement, and it certainly is not a political one.”
Chef Andrew Zimmern. Photo courtesy of Andrew Zimmern/Facebook
Ultimately, he urged his followers — of which he has over a million on Instagram alone — to “do something today to help.”
“To be honest, I am hopeful,” Zimmern wrote in a post over the weekend.
“Life is an action step. Do something — anything — because it lifts the feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. It is the light we need in the darkness.”
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Header images courtesy of Andrew Zimmern/Instagram
