WASHINGTON – Acclaimed Spanish chef Jose Andres is heading back to the classroom.

 

Andres, who has popularized tapas small plates at his Washington-area eateries, will teach his first course at George Washington University next year. The school is announcing Monday that Andres will teach a course on how food shapes civilization.

 

The weekly class is open to 230 students. Topics will include the politics and history of food, hunger and obesity and food’s relationship with national security.

 

Andres says eating is one thing everyone has in common. He says food connects with science, art, energy, economics, health, diplomacy and other parts of society.

 

The chef has also taught at Harvard and has said he wants to create a research center on food policy that could level the playing field with agribusiness lobbyists.