14:09 | Mexico City (Mexico), Sep. 27.
During an exciting and colorful ceremony in Mexico City, Peruvian restaurant Central was revealed as the No.1 ranked restaurant at the 2016 edition of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.
The announcement took place last night at Centro Cultural Roberto Cantoral in an event that celebrates the very best of Latin American gastronomy and showcases its top chefs.
Receiving the award for a third year in a row, Central chef-owners Virgilio Martinez and Pia Leon continue to work at the forefront of gastronomy shaping an ever-evolving Peruvian cuisine, remarkable for its quality and innovation.
Chef Virgilio Martinez’s star has been rising rapidly for the last few years, coinciding with Lima’s ascent to become one of the world’s leading gastronomic destinations.
Now in its third year as No.1 in the list, Central is an unmissable part of the itinerary, with its tasting menu travelling from 25 meters below to 4,200 meters above sea level.
Martinez was trained in kitchens in London, New York, Bogota and Madrid before opening Central in 2009. He cooks alongside his head chef and wife, Pia.
Maido, also from Lima, ranks in second place, while Astrid y Gaston, another Lima-based eatery, is rewarded with the seventh position.
Maido’s take on Nikkei cuisine –a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian– is widely regarded as the best in Lima, which is no small feat considering the Peruvian capital has earned its name as South America’s No.1 foodie hotspot.
On the other hand, Astrid y Gaston has been leading Peru's gastronomic surge since its opening 20 years ago, with talented head chef Diego Muñoz at the helm for several years.
His extensive tasting menu offers an exploration of the region’s ingredients, traditions and culinary techniques.
Created in 2013, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list provides an annual barometer of taste, generated from the votes of over 250 independent experts from across the region, who comprise the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy.
(END) RMB/MVB
Published: 9/27/2016