August 2023
In the world of culinary arts, it’s often said that the chef who unveils his secrets eventually fades away. One of the world’s most renowned Latin American chef’s, Gastón Acurio, made it his life’s work to challenge this notion. By adopting a collaborative approach to innovation and embracing transparency, over the course of four decades Gastón turned Peruvian gastronomy into an economic and social phenomenon. His remarkable journey to stardom has left an indelible mark on the global culinary landscape and paved the way for Peru's rise as the gastronomic capital of the Americas.
The Culinary Journey of Gastón Acurio
The son of a prominent politician, Gastón was sent to Madrid in the late 1980’s to study law in the hopes he would follow in his father’s footsteps. Showing his rebellious nature, Gastón dropped out of law school without telling his family in order to explore his burgeoning passion for cooking. Soon after, he moved to Paris where he enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu and met his future wife, Astrid Gutsche. Over the next few years, Gastón gained experience at some of the top restaurants in France, including the famed three Michelin-starred Tour d’Argent.
Eager to bring his cooking back to Peru, Gastón and Astrid returned to Lima in 1994 where they opened the now iconic restaurant Astrid & Gastón. Initially, the restaurant served primarily French dishes, but little-by-little Gastón started incorporating Peruvian techniques and ingredients to his dishes.
Gastón came to realize that the recipe for his own success was not to emulate European traditions, but instead to revive and promote Peru’s own diverse cultural traditions which span from the Andes to the Amazon.
He became obsessed with studying and incorporating local techniques and flavors, and a new cuisine emerged. Gastón then became determined to introduce it to the rest of the world. Over the coming decades, the couple created brands including La Mar, Tanta, Yakumanka, and Jarana, which they successfully brought to cities across the US, Europe and the Middle East.
Peruvian Cuisine's Global Ambassador and Economic Catalyst
© https://www.cordonbleu.edu/paris/gaston-acurio-alumnus-graduate-cuisine-diploma/en
As Peruvian food began growing in popularity in the global culinary scene, Gastón became the unofficial ambassador of Peruvian cuisine and a household name throughout Peru, where he’s known by everyone as simply “Gastón.” Today, Gastón is perhaps the world’s most renowned Latin-American chef. Having established a restaurant empire that includes 65 restaurants in over 12 countries, with annual revenues in excess of $100 million, he has built an empire around the diversity and exoticism of Peruvian food.
His influence in Peru cannot be overstated. Gastón has transformed gastronomy in his home country from a simple concept into a cultural landmark, helping create a multimillion-dollar industry that now accounts for 9.5% of Peru's GDP.
Since Gastón began promoting Peruvian cuisine in the 1990s, Peru has witnessed a surge in culinary schools, with over 300 institutions today. Lima, in particular, has emerged as a global culinary hub and is well on its way to becoming the world's gastronomic capital.
Global Accolades and the US market
For his tireless efforts developing what he refers to as “embassies of Peruvian culture,” Gastón has received countless honors and awards, including
Peru’s Order of Merit for Distinguished Services in the Grade of Grand Cross
Entrepreneur of the Year from América Económica
World Gastronomy Award in Sweden
World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award
Eckart Innovation Prize (with Astrid)
With his eyes set on an attractive US restaurant market with a growing appetite for Peruvian food, Gastón is showing no signs of slowing down.
With the recently launched AR Expansion Fund comes an opportunity for food-loving investors to partner with a world-renowned chef and to savor in the surging popularity of Peruvian-inspired cuisine.
