José Andrés' Go-To Canned Bean Brand
"It's a responsibility when you are in a position of leadership because leadership doesn't mean it's about you, you, you," chef Eric Ripert said in a Tasting Table interview at this year's Cayman Cookout where he hosted other renowned chefs, including his close friend — chef José Andrés. While considering the humanitarian work that Andrés does with World Central Kitchen (WCK), it came to no surprise when he followed Ripert's notion by speaking up during the Goya Foods boycott of 2020.
In a tweet Andrés said, "Let's be clear [Goya Foods] President Trump has left Latinos and many Americans hungry. Cages Latino Children. Has forgotten the Latino community through this pandemic. Has called Mexicans rapist. We are blessed? I think Latinos we are being mistreated....." Perhaps Goya took Andrés' words of leadership to heart, as the company offered a helping hand during the 2022 hurricane relief efforts.
Still, during the 2020 pandemic quarantine, Andrés spoke to Food & Wine about making use of food items that might otherwise go to waste. Harkening back to his childhood when his family didn't have a lot of money, he said, "...my parents showed me that everything in the kitchen has its use."
Among Andrés' go-to pantry staples to reimagine were beans. But they weren't Goya beans. Actually, they weren't from a can at all.
Conservas Rosara delivers 'incredible beans,' José Andrés claims
"The best canned beans are actually in a jar," he told Food & Wine, "Conservas Rosara is one of my favorite brands these days. In Spain, the very best vegetables are preserved at their peak, so you can get incredible beans in a jar — garbanzos, Judión, alubias, pochas, fabes ... All from Navarra in the Basque region. All are amazing."
Located in the northern region of Spain, the food company takes pride in its terroir, but also the work of its employees. "At Conservas Rosara we take the issue of quality very seriously. It is not enough to select the best fruits of the earth, the elaboration is very important," its website notes, adding that freshly harvested produce is processed uniquely to the varieties' characteristics.
Online orders for items like red beans from La Rioja (called Caparrones), which go for $6.17 per 720-ml jar, come with a vow to produce quality products, sans additives. The company cites, "The flavor is natural and clear of legumes and only legumes."
Although, with WCK's $1 billion commitment to support communities impacted by the climate crisis, companies devoted to producing clean foods like Conservas Rosara could translate beyond those pricey jarred beans. As the WCK's founder, Andrés, concludes, "You'd be amazed at the power of a plate of food. It can change the world, and so can you."