Gastón Acurio

Gastón Acurio is the most important figure in the history of Peruvian gastronomy — the chef who, more than any other, internationalised Peruvian food and established Lima as a serious gastronomic capital. He studied at the Cordon Bleu in Paris, where he met pastry chef Astrid Gutsche (who became his wife and the 'Astrid' of the restaurant's name). They opened Astrid y Gastón in Lima in 1994 as a French restaurant; within years, Acurio pivoted to Peruvian cuisine and the restaurant became the most important table in Peru. He received the World's 50 Best Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. His empire now spans 40+ restaurants globally (La Mar, Tanta, Chicha, Panchita, Madam Tusan) but Astrid y Gastón remains the flagship, the original expression of his mission: to prove Peruvian cuisine belongs among the world's great gastronomic traditions.