Virgilio Martínez’s Central, which hadn’t dropped out of the Top 5 on the 50 Best Awards since the year 2015, has become the World’s Best Restaurant according to the Organization’s 2023 edition of the 50 Best Restaurant gala which took place at the Palace of Arts and Sciences of Valencia, Spain. This restaurant was also crowned in the list of the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America during the 2022 edition.
Central is essentially a tribute to our country and all its ecosystems, from 15 meters under the sea to 4200 meters up in the Andes. The restaurant’s world famous menu demonstrates the big inspiration this power couple takes from Peru’s biodiverse ecosystems and their effort to enhance the territory and bring to the table the vast diversity our country possesses. Their (seemingly) infinite pantry has focused on nourishing the most ancestral and traditional recipes on the Peruvian Cuisine, impregnated with the influence of different civilizations and the never-ending mix of cultures.
It’s worth noting that Virgilio’s restaurant is co-run by his life partner, the chef Pía León, winner of the Best Female Chef Award on 2021, she puts emphasis on teamwork, giving her special thanks to her Central team and thanking her husband, mentioning his perseverance and calling him “a unique example of what it means to work so hard to follow your path”.
In addition, it is important to emphasize that Peru has always played a pivotal role in the world of gastronomy. As Arista (2020) notes:
Lima has become the gastronomic capital of South America and a reference for new trends in cuisine and gastronomy. This experience has been spreading at the national level through fairs, markets, and other government and private initiatives. (Guardia, S. B. 2020, Chapter 3, p.39)
This demonstrates that despite the fact that Peru was only recognized at a continental level before, it is finally positioning itself for what it truly is, a top culinary destination. In fact, Peru's rich and diverse culinary traditions, its fusion of flavors, and its world-renowned chefs have contributed to its rise in the global culinary scene, attracting food enthusiasts and travelers from all over the world to experience its delectable cuisine. With Central being the ultimate representative, Peru's culinary influence continues to grow, making it an essential stop for anyone passionate about world-class dining experiences.
References:
Sgarbi, G. (s/f). A historic day for Peruvian gastronomy: Central is The World’s Best Restaurant 2023. 50B - STORIES. Recuperado el 1 de noviembre de 2023, de https://www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News/the-worlds-50-best-restaurants-2023-no-1-central-lima.html
Martínez, N., & Bonilla, M. (2023, June 21). El restaurante peruano Central, el mejor del mundo según The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. El Español. https://www.elespanol.com/cocinillas/actualidad-gastronomica/20230620/central-mejor-restaurante-the-worlds-best-restaurants/772923095_0.html
Guardia, S. B. (2020). Gastronomía peruana. Patrimonio cultural de la humanidad. Universidad de San Martín de Porres. https://catedraunesco.usmp.edu.pe/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/gp-patrimonio-cultural-humanidad-294.pdf
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