Gastón Acurio, chef, writer, entrepreneur, and one of the most important promoters of Peruvian cuisine in the world, studied gastronomy and hospitality in Madrid and Paris, where he met his future wife, Astrid Gutsche. He founded his first restaurant in his hometown of Lima, Peru, in 1994, Astrid & Gastón, which went on to get top 20 rankings for years on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants lists. The evolution of the menu over time from classic French dishes to experimentation with other ingredients and Peruvian preparations launched a country-wide trend. Gastón opened Astrid & Gastón franchises in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Spain, and created other brands, including La Mar, Tanta, Panchita, Chicha, Madam Tusan, Bachiche, and Papacho’s.  In 2007, Gastón began focusing on education and founded the first school of chefs and waiters for low-income youth in Pachacútec, Ventanilla, Callao. That same year, he founded APEGA, the Peruvian Society of Gastronomy, with which he organized the first International Gastronomic Fair of Lima, subsequently named Mistura, one of the most important gastronomic events in Latin America. He has received many honors and awards, including Peru’s Order of Merit for Distinguished Services in the Grade of Grand Cross, the most important after the Order El Sol de Perú;  Entrepreneur of the Year from América Económica;  the World Gastronomy Award in Sweden; the World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award; and, with Astrid, the Eckart Innovation Prize. He was named Ambassador of Good Will for UNICEF in 2009. Gastón has published several books, including Una Aventura Culinaria, Larousse de la Gastronomía Peruana, 500 Años de Fusión, Cebiche Power, and Perú: The Cookbook. For over 10 years, Gastón has directed and led the cable TV program Aventura Culinaria and has been featured in a number of programs and documentaries.  Today, Gastón is the gastronomic director of Astrid & Gastón and the rest of his restaurants—12 brands across more than 45 restaurants in nine countries. He continues the creation of new concepts, the latest being El Bodegon and Barra Chalaca in Lima, and Yakumanka in Barcelona. He travels around the world to promote Peruvian cuisine and is working with the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú to create the first gastronomic university in Peru. (Lima, Peru) @gastonacurio

(Photo Credit: Inés Menacho)