CHEF

In 2005, America Economía Magazine, the mostprominent and influential business magazine in SouthAmerica, named GastónAcurio“Entrepreneur of theYear.”Today,havingcollectively created close to adozen restaurant brands and operate over 70 venues in10 countries throughout North and South America,Europe, and the Middle East,Gastón Acurio’s portfolio of restaurantsisat the forefront of the Peruvianculinary revolution.

In the late 1980s, Acurio attended law school, but hispassion for food prevailed, and he left to studyculinaryarts at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.During his time in Paris, Acurio met his German-bornwife Astrid. Togetherin 1994,they opened Astrid & Gastónin Lima, Peruestablishing it as one of thefirst Peruvianhaute cuisinerestaurants in the world.Originally, the restaurant was very French-oriented,reflectingAcurio’s classicalFrench training, but he soonbegan experimenting with Peruvian ingredients andtakinginspiration fromlocal traditions. In 2012, Astrid&Gastón debuted at#35 on San Pellegrino’sWorld’s 50 Best Restaurantslist, and in 2013, it climbedto the#14 spot–in the inaugural year ofLatin America’s 50 Best Restaurants,Astrid & Gastón received the coveted#1position.

In 2009, Acurio received the international Prince ClausAward in the Collective Memories and Journalismcategory for his significant contribution to cultureanddevelopment. That same year, he was honored bytheMadrid Fusión panel for his defense of Peruvian and LatinAmericanbiodiversity andUNICEF namedhimAmbassador of Good Will.Gastón has alsoserved asthekeynote speakerat the Madrid Fusiónconferencein 2011.

Lima, Peru has become the gastronomic capital of SouthAmerica, hosting Mistura, the region’s greatestculinaryfestival. Gastón Acurio led the festival’s organizationfor three years as president of APEGA (thePeruvianGastronomy Society) and currently remains involved as aboard member.

Through Acurio Restaurantes, Gastón is a primarysupporter of the Pachacútec School of Cuisine, aculinary school located in one of Lima’s poorest areas.The school provides underprivileged youth fromacrossthe region with the opportunity to study underindustry leadingprofessionals and pursue culinarycareers.

Gastón Acurio has authored and publishedover20 nationalbest-sellers in Peru, includingone ofhis latestpublications, 500Años de Fusión (500 Years of Fusion),published by the renowned publishing housePhaidonand which wasvotedthe best cookbook worldwide atthe 2008 GourmandWorld CookbookAwards.

In 2018, Acurio was presented with the LifetimeAchievement Award fromthe World’s 50 BestRestaurants,a major award that few chefs have won. Henow shares the ranks of this prestigiousaccolade withAlainDucasse, Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and others.Today,Gastónfrequently travels the worldcontinuingto promotePeruvian cuisineand bringing it to the forefront of the world’s gastronomic stage.