Peruvian cuisine, considered among the best in the world, inherited its innovation, mix and flavours from Peru’s history.
Its culinary fusion developed over a long process of cultural exchange between the Spanish, Africans, Chinese, Japanese and Italians, among others.
Nutritious pastas arrived along with Italian migrants, whose adaptations have resulted in traditional dishes like green or red pasta.
Ceviche, Peruvian’s emblematic dish, emerged from a fusion with Japanese cuisine. Lastly, the trend of Novo-Andean cuisine boasts indigenous foods worthy of the most elegant settings, reclaiming the national flavour that is such an important part of our identity.
Ferrán Adriá, owner and chef of the Spanish restaurant “El Bulli” and recognized as one of the best chef in the world, says:
“I know the Peruvian cuisine has a lot of tradition and a great variety of products that would surprise me. What is traditional for Peruvians may be modern for us; the combination of sweet, salty and sour tastes is also something different. This makes it a very personal cuisine, with lots of tradition but which is also open to change. I believe that Peruvian cuisine will offer a lot to talk about.”
Ferrán Adriá, owner and chef of the Spanish restaurant “El Bulli”
Lima, Latin America’s Culinary Capital
The recently announced San Pellegrino ‘The World’s 50 Top Best Restaurants’ for 2015 featured a number of restaurants in Lima, Peru, confirming its reputation at Latin America’s culinary capital.
Central, celebrates Peru’s biodiversity and ancient Andean heritage, rose up the ranks coming in at #4, up from #15 in 2014. Central takes diners on a vertical journey across Peru’s landscape, serving native ingredients sourced at various altitudes. The mountains, sea, desert and jungle are all represented as Central’s tasting menu travels from 25 metres below to 4,200 metres above sea level.
Astrid y Gaston came in at #14. The restaurant is the work of Gastón Acurio, the undisputed king of Peruvian cuisine, revered for elevating the food of South America’s westernmost country to five-star status.
Peru also cleaned up in the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America list with Central taking out the first place, and Astrid Y Gaston in second place.
Peru’s 8 restaurants in the top 50 list
- Central Restaurant
- Astrid y Gaston
- Maido
- Malabar
- La Mar
- Fiesta
- Rafael
- La Picanteria
Central Restaurant
Chef Virgilio Martinez has taken Peruvian cuisine to a whole new extreme elevation. Central, which captured the top spot on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2014 and 2015, takes diners on a vertical journey across Peru’s landscape, serving native ingredients sourced at various altitudes.
The mountains, sea, desert and jungle are all represented as Central’s tasting menu travels from 25 metres below to 4,200 metres above sea level.
Astrid y Gaston:
Gastón Acurio is the undisputed king of Peruvian cuisine, revered for elevating the food of South America’s westernmost country to five-star status.
His empire stretches throughout South America, and the new palace headquarters are in the historic hacienda of Casa Moreyra, close to his childhood home in the upscale San Isidro district of Lima.