One of the most important international representatives of Peruvian cuisine, Chef Gastón Acurio was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2005 by América Economía, the most prominent economic magazine in South America. In the late 1980s, he began his education at a law faculty but left it halfway due to his passion for cooking and pursued culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. During his studies, he met his wife Astrid, and together they opened their first restaurant, “Astrid & Gastón,” in Lima, the capital of Peru. Considered one of the world’s first Peruvian haute cuisine restaurants, the venue initially offered a menu mainly focused on French cuisine but gradually developed its own unique culinary style inspired by Peru’s local ingredients and traditions. In 2012, the restaurant entered the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list at 35th place. By 2013, Astrid & Gastón had risen to 14th and was also included in the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, ranking first in that region.

Gastón Acurio, founder of the Acurio Group, was awarded the international “Prince Claus” prize in the Netherlands in 2009 for his contributions to cultural development. That same year, he was honored at Madrid Fusión—one of the world’s most important gastronomy events—for his advocacy of Latin America’s biodiversity, and he was invited as the keynote speaker in 2011. In 2009, UNICEF named Acurio a “Goodwill Ambassador,” and he was also honored with Peru’s second highest state award, the “Order of Distinguished Services – Grand Cross.”

Acurio continued serving on the board of Mistura, one of South America’s largest gastronomy festivals, and was president of APEGA (the Peruvian Gastronomy Association) for three years. He is also the main supporter of a Culinary School established for disadvantaged youth in Pachacútec, one of Lima’s poorest neighborhoods.

Acurio has published 20 books, all of which have appeared on Peru’s bestseller lists. His book 500 Años de Fusión (500 Years of Fusion) was named “Best International Cookbook” at the 2008 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. He served as a judge on the MasterChef Peru TV show and has opened several restaurants besides Astrid & Gastón, including La Mar, Tanta, Panchita, Chicha, Madam Tusan, Bachiche, and Papacho’s. Some of his recent concepts are El Bodegón and Barra Chalaca in Lima, and Yakumanka in Barcelona.

In 2018, Gastón Acurio received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Today, Acurio is a pioneer of the Peruvian gastronomic revolution, operating around 70 restaurants and nearly a dozen restaurant brands across 10 countries in North and South America, Europe, and the Middle East.