Calay News
The Peruano Central Restaurant, owned by chefs Virgilio Martínez and Pía León, was recognized as the “best restaurant in the world” in Restaurant magazine’s prestigious “50 Best Restaurants” ranking. This year, the list also honored Spanish gastronomy. The Lima restaurant succeeds Denmark’s Geranium and was noted for its cuisine that celebrates the “unique biodiversity of the country’s indigenous ingredients” and Peru’s “traditions and history,” according to the 50 Best list, whose awards ceremony was held in Valencia, Spain.
Second place in this edition went to the Barcelona restaurant Disfrutar. In addition, two other Spanish restaurants, Diverxo from Madrid and Asador Etxebarri from the Basque Country, came in third and fourth place, respectively. San Sebastian’s Mugaritz ranked 31st.
In addition to Central, Peru’s gastronomic scene was highlighted with the inclusion of Lima restaurants Maido (6), Kjolle (28) and Mayta (47) on the list. Mexico was also represented with restaurants Quintonil (9), Pujol (13) and Rosetta (49) from Mexico City, while Brazil appeared with A casa do porco (12) from Sao Paulo.
Other Latin American restaurants recognized include Argentina’s Don Julio (19) in Buenos Aires, Chile’s Boragó (29) in Santiago, and Colombia’s El Chato (33) and Leo (43) in Bogotá.
The “50 Best” list is voted on by 1,080 “independent experts,” including chefs, specialized journalists, and restaurant owners. These experts compile their experiences under the auspices of Restaurant magazine, part of the William Reed press group. The jury is composed of 27 regions of the world, each with 40 members, and they can vote for 10 restaurants, including at least three outside their region.
The legitimacy of this ranking, which is sponsored by several brands, has been regularly questioned, especially by French chefs, who accuse it of complacency and a lack of transparency. In response to this, critics, including French, Japanese, and American, launched “The List” in 2015, a ranking of 1,000 restaurants worldwide.
