Peruvian restaurant Astrid y Gastón crowned Latin America's best restaurant with Brazil's D.O.M 2nd

Peruvian restaurant, Astrid y Gastón has claimed the coveted number one spot on the inaugural Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, sponsored by Cusqueña.

Lima’s Astrid y Gastón, The Cusqueña Latin America’s Best Restaurant and The Cusqueña Best Restaurant in Peru, has long been acclaimed as one of Peru’s most exciting places to eat, where simple Peruvian cooking is combined with chef-owner Gaston Acurio’s own character and style. Acurio and Head Chef Diego Muñoz continue to experiment with Peruvian ingredients, often referencing Andean and Amazonian culinary traditions.

Brazil boasts nine restaurants on the list with Sao Paulo’s D.O.M shooting straight in at no.2 to take the S.Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Brazil. Atala is widely considered ‘the face of Brazilian cuisine’ and one of the world’s most influential chefs, renowned for combining the most authentic Brazilian flavours with a contemporary approach.

Supported by Astrid y Gastón’s achievement in reaching the summit of the Latin America list, Peru dominates the top 10 with Virgilio Martinez’s Central at no. 4 and Malabar at no.7. The country has a total of seven restaurants on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list sponsored by Cusqueña.  Lima’s Maido (no.11), Rafael (no.13), Fiesta (no.14) and Acurio’s La Mar (no.15) all feature and demonstrate the diversity and repute of Peruvian cuisine.

Helena Rizzo, executive chef of fellow São Paulo restaurant Mani, which is ranked at no.5, takes home the Veuve Clicquot Latin America’s Best Female Chef Award. Another victory is won for Brazil as Restaurant Remanso do Bosque in Belém receives The Latin America’s One to Watch Award, sponsored by BBVA. Chefs Thiago and Felipe Castanho’s inspiration comes from the proximity of the nearby forest combining regional dishes with Amazonian flavours.

The awards were presented in the company of the region’s most influential restaurateurs, finest chefs and international media at the Country Club Lima Hotel in Peru.  The results of the awards and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list is available at http://www.theworlds50best.com/latinamerica/en/