The Pride of Peruvian Cuisine
From global recognition, to top restaurants, to the James Beard Awards.
Cooking Peruvian food is a strong part of my identity. So it makes me proud that the world is finally realizing what I’ve always known: Peruvian cuisine is a rich culinary fabric of Peru’s Indigenous, African, Chinese, and Japanese cultures that tells stories of colonialism, resistance, and migration while celebrating coastal, Andean, and Amazonic ingredients.
Global Recognition
This past year, Peru won World’s Leading Culinary Destination, besting culinary giants France, Italy, Japan, China, Mexico, Australia, India, and the United States, among others. This is the Oscar’s of the food world and it went to Peru. But it’s not just last year, Peru has won the award 12 times:
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2024: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2023: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2022: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2021: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2020: Italy
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2019: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2018: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2017: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2016: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2015: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2014: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2013: Peru
World’s Leading Culinary Destination 2012: Peru
This means that more people enjoy traveling to Peru to eat than anywhere else in the world. This global accolade makes all Peruvians very proud.
Top Restaurants
In 2023, Lima’s Central was the No. 1 restaurant on The World's 50 Best Restaurants, and this year four Peruvian restaurants are on the list, with one in the top spot:
While all have risen in the rankings from previous years, I am happy to see Maido in the top spot because it celebrates the Nikkei fusion of Japanese and Peruvian culinary cultures that inspires me so. It makes me proud that for the second time the best restaurant in the world is in my home country.
The James Beard Awards
Since 2020, I’ve submitted my stories to the James Beard Awards food and drink categories, but I’ve never won. These are three of my favorites:
However, this year I have reason to celebrate. Joe Yonan’s cookbook, “Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking,” won the James Beard Award for best Vegetable-Focused Cookbook. Of the 300 recipes, I contributed a dozen, plus an essay. Two of the recipes are inspired by Peru’s Nikkei cuisine:
I am proud that a cookbook with my name as a contributor, that includes recipes inspired by my culinary heritage, has won a James Beard Award.
I went on a nutrition-focused mission trip to Peru back in March. I loved learning about Peruvian cuisine, and had a chance to try many delicious dishes (but only the vegetarian ones!). I began looking for a vegan Peruvian cookbook and came across your dishes. I recently bought Mastering the Art of Plant Based Cooking and I can't wait to try your recipes! Thank you for sharing them!
Nico, congrats on your contribution toward “Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking” winning the James Beard Award! 😊