LIMA, Oct 25 — Peru has cemented itself as the gastronomic capital of Latin America, with another chart-topping restaurant, Maido, taking the crown at the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants awards.
Since the event launched in 2013, the top spot has been occupied by restaurants in the Peruvian capital of Lima, with Astrid y Gaston taking the inaugural award, then Central maintaining a stronghold for the next three years.
But for its fifth edition, which took place in Bogota, Colombia last night, chef Mitsuharu Tsumura’s restaurant Maido succeeded in knocking Central off its perch to claim the auspicious title.
At Maido, diners sit down to a 16-course tasting menu of Nikkei cuisine — a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavours — that might include fish and octopus hotdog choripan (chorizo sandwich); calamari and snail dim sum; or his signature 50-hour asado de tira, or braised short rib.
The restaurant also serves sushi.
“Maido means ‘welcome’ in Japanese and the word epitomises the experience at chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura’s restaurant,” editors write.
“From start to finish, diners are treated as if they’re at home and taken on a gastronomic journey through Peru’s finest produce.”
Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants is the regional spin-off of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards.
Overall, Mexico leads the list with 13 addresses, followed by Peru (10), Argentina (9) and Brazil (8).
Here are the top 10 restaurants on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants awards list:
1. Maido, Lima, Peru
2. Central, Lima Peru
3. D.O.M. Sao Paulo, Brazil
4. Pujol, Mexico City
5. Borago, Santiago, Chile
6. Quintonil, Mexico City
7. Astrid y Gaston, Lima, Peru
8. A Casa do Porco, Sao Paulo, Brazil
9. Mani, Sao Paulo, Brazil
10. Tegui, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The full list can be found here. — AFP-Relaxnews
