Maido in Lima, Peru wins Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 for the third time in a row

Maido in Lima, Peru claimed the top position for the third time in a row at Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna.

Mitsuharu "Micha" Tsumura from Maido, a restaurant known as much for its warm ambience as its cuisine, stressed the importance of teamwork in the kitchen on accepting the award:

“… It wouldn’t be possible without the team, sometimes this is not visible…. This message goes to all the people who work in the industry who break their back day-to-day to open restaurants and the people who work behind us where nobody can see them.”

Second and third place went to two renowned restaurants in the 50 Best classification: Central in Lima, Peru, by Virgilio Martinez and Pía León and Pujol restaurant in Mexico City managed by Chef Enrique Olvera.

This year’s seventh edition of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, saw competition winners achieve the awards that mark excellence in global gastronomy in Latin America on the 10th October, at Usina del Arte, the cultural hub in the fizzy La Boca area of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

OTHER AWARDS

The other awards presented at the 50 Best event included the Highest New Entry restaurant. This went to the venue and chef that demonstrated the strongest environmental and social responsibility credentials. The details of the rest of the awards can be found below: 

LATIN AMERICA’S BEST PASTRY CHEF AWARD

The Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef Award was awarded to Mexico’s King of Chocolate, chef Luis Robledo of Tout Chocolat in Mexico City.

CHEF’S CHOICE AWARD

The Chef’s Choice Award went to Tomás Kalika of Mishiguene in Buenos Aires.

SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANT AWARD

The Sustainable Restaurant Award 2019 was awarded to Central in Lima, confirming the achievement of chef-owners Virgilio Martinez and Pía León to showcase the diversity of Peru’s ecosystems.

HIGHEST CLIMBER AWARD

Alcalde (Guadalajara, Mexico) won the Highest Climber Award 2019 with an impressive commitment to innovation and change within the sector.

HIGHEST NEW ENTRY AWARD

Kjolle (Lima, Peru) led by talented young chef, Pía León, took the Highest New Entry with Pia appearing later in the list with Mil at number 36. The combination of her experience and creative vision has thrust Kjolle into the LATAM spotlight.

ART OF HOSPITALITY AWARD

Lasai (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) achieved the Art of Hospitality Award for their notable talent in making people feel welcome and for providing an exceptional dining experience.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED AWARDS

Other previously announced awards include:

THE MIELE ONE TO WATCH AWARD

Celele in Cartegena de Indias, by chefs Jaime Rodriguez and Sebastián Pinzon who won the Miele One to Watch Award 2019 for best emerging restaurant in Latin America. Located in Colombia’s coastal side of the Caribbean, the restaurant offers much in the way of Colombian Caribbean cuisine thanks to the chefs’ constant research into products, techniques and recipes through their Proyecto Caribe Lab initiative. Serving an á la carte and two tasting menus since 2018, they are inspired by the fusion of Spanish, European, Africa, Syrian and Lebanese traditions.

Chef Rodríguez: “The idea behind our work was always to show people that Colombian Caribbean cuisine goes far beyond coconut rice and fried fish.”

THE NEW AMERICAN EXPRESS ICON AWARD 2019

There is no better trail-blazer than Pedro Miguel Schiaffino and his restaurant Amaz, who accepted the new Icon Award 2019 sponsored by American Express. The award is given to the chef who has made an outstanding contribution to the restaurant industry, by driving change and raising the awareness of environmental issues.

As part of his commitment to protecting the rainforest and indigenous communities, Schiaffino has introduced ají dulce, cupuazú fruit and paiche fish from the Amazon to the Latin Amercian community.

Furthermore, he has played an active role in reducing overfishing and encourages growth of the Amazon’s natural resources as an invaluable global food source.

“The biodiversity and indigenous communities of my country are two of my greatest inspirations. We can talk about individual icons, but I also think an icon can be a whole people, a whole community or indigenous community.” said Schiaffino.

LATIN AMERICA’S BEST FEMALE CHEF 2019

Carolina Bazán won the Latin America’s Best Female Chef 2019 award for her running of Ambrosia and Ambrosia Bistro kitchens in Santiago, Chile. At only 23, she opened and ran the family’s first Ambrosia restaurant. Its homely flavours were a great success and after her trip to France, she overhauled Ambrosia’s menu and brought it to a new location. She recently opened the Ambrosia Bistro where Bistronomy is the byword as much for ambience as it is for quality and excellent cooking. Her flavours are both intense while simple in preparation, and are associated with those Latin American ones she enjoyed as a child. Her family also plays a big role in making her who she is today.

She says, “Being named Latin America’s Best Female Chef is an honour for me, not just because of what I’ve accomplished at my restaurants, but because of the balance I’ve had to instil in my personal and work life,” said Bazán. “I worked really hard for this, but I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my family. They are my priority in every aspect of my life.”

SEE THE FULL LIST: LATIN AMERICA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS 2019

1 Maido (Lima, Peru) *The Best Restaurant in Latin America/The Best Restaurant in Peru
2 Central (Lima, Peru) *Sustainable Restaurant Award
3 Pujol (Mexico City, Mexico) *The Best Restaurant in Mexico
4 Don Julio (Buenos Aires, Argentina) *The Best Restaurant in Argentina
5 Boragó (Santiago, Chile) *The Best Restaurant in Chile
6 A Casa do Porco (São Paulo, Brazil) *The Best Restaurant in Brazil
7 El Chato (Bogotá, Colombia) *The Best Restaurant in Colombia
8 Leo (Bogotá, Colombia)
9 Osso (Lima, Peru)
10 D.O.M. (São Paulo, Brazil)
11 Quintonil (Mexico City, Mexico)
12 Isolina (Lima, Peru)
13 Astrid y Gastón (Lima, Peru)
14 Alcalde (Guadalajara, Mexico) *Highest Climber
15 Pangea (Monterrey, Mexico)
16 Sud 777 (Mexico City, Mexico)
17 Maito (Panama City, Panama) *The Best Restaurant in Panama
18 Maní (São Paulo, Brazil)
19 Rafael (Lima, Peru)
20 Mishiguene (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
21 Kjolle (Lima, Peru) *Highest New Entry
22 Harry Sasson (Bogotá, Colombia)
23 Oteque (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
24 Lasai (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) *Art of Hospitality Award
25 Tegui (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
26 La Mar (Lima, Peru)
27 Rosetta (Mexico City, Mexico)
28 Máximo Bistrot (Mexico City, Mexico)
29 Chila (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
30 Ambrosía (Santiago, Chile)
31 Nicos (Mexico City, Mexico)
32 Le Chique (Cancun, Mexico)
33 Parador La Huella (José Ignacio, Uruguay) *The Best Restaurant in Uruguay
34 De Patio (Santiago, Chile) *New Entry
35 Olympe (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
36 Mil (Cusco, Peru) *New Entry
37 Restaurante 040 (Santiago, Chile)
38 La Docena (Polanco, Mexico City, Mexico) *New Entry
39 El Baqueano (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
40 Evvai (São Paulo, Brazil) *New Entry
41 La Docena (Guadalajara, Mexico)
42 Manu (Curitiba, Brazil) *New Entry
43 Mocotó (São Paulo, Brazil)
44 Osaka (Santiago, Chile)
45 Elena (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
46 Gran Dabbang (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
47 99 (Santiago, Chile)
48 Malabar (Lima, Peru)
49 Mayta (Lima, Peru) *New Entry
50 Narda Comedor (Buenos Aires, Argentina)