09:30 | Merida (Mexico), Nov. 16.
Peruvian Lima-based restaurant
Central reclaimed its spot as The Best Restaurant in Latin America 2022, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna. The last time Central claimed the No.1 position in the annual ranking was in 2016.
The stars of the culinary world descended on Merida, Yucatan, for the first full gathering of Latin America's gastronomic community since 2019, as the list of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2022, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, was unveiled.
Held on Tuesday, November 15, the ceremony celebrated the diversity and richness of the region's culinary landscape by recognizing the excellence of establishments from 21 different destinations on the list before naming Lima's Central as The Best Restaurant in Latin America 2022 and The Best Restaurant in Peru.
Chefs Virgilio Martinez and Pia Leon's flagship restaurant, Central —an ode to Peru's unique landscapes, history and traditions— tops the annual vote for the first time
since 2016.
Central is joined in the top three by Don Julio (No.2) in Buenos Aires, as The Best Restaurant in Argentina, and Maido (No.3) in Lima.
Thus, Buenos Aires and Lima continue their reign as culinary meccas with eight restaurants on the list each.
"We are thrilled to return to the region with the first regular list of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants since 2020 and our first full gathering of the region's gastronomic community since 2019," said William Drew, Director of Content for Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants.
"The last three years have spurred significant change in the sector, which has lent itself to an array of new restaurants and destinations being highlighted on the list for 2022. It is our honor once again to be able to celebrate the region's resilience and richness in gastronomy," he stated.
For his part, Sanpellegrino International Business Unit Director Stefano Bolognese remarked that S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna are sponsors of Latin America's most prestigious culinary awards program for the tenth consecutive year.
"It's an honor for us to be part of tonight's celebrations," he pointed out.
The Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants Academy is comprised of more than 300 regional voting members, each of whom is hand-picked for his or her expert opinion of the Latin American restaurant scene.
The votes of this Academy make up Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list, an annual barometer of taste. The Academy is divided into five regions: Mexico, Central America, South America (North), South America (South), and Brazil.
Each region includes expert voters made up of journalists, food critics, chefs, restaurateurs, and well-travelled gourmets.
(END) NDP/RMB/MVB
Published: 11/16/2022