Gastón Acurio is a chef, writer, businessman, and promoter of Peruvian culinary arts. His Lima-based flagship restaurant, Astrid y Gastón, won the No.1 spot on the inaugural Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2013 and has held a spot on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list since 2011. With 50 restaurants across the world, Acurio Restaurantes is leading the Peruvian culinary revolution.

During the late ‘80s, Acurio attended law school; however, his passion for food was stronger, so he decided to leave college and began studying culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where he met his future wife, German-born Astrid. In 1994, they founded Astrid y Gastón, one of the first restaurants of Peruvian haute cuisine. Initially very French-orientated due to his training, Acurio soon found himself experimenting with Peruvian ingredients and taking inspiration from local traditions to much acclaim.

He was named 2005 Entrepreneur of the Year by America Economía, a leading business magazine in South America. In 2009, Acurio received the “Prince Claus of Holland” international award in the category "Collective Memories and Journalism" for his significant contribution in the field of culture and development. Within the framework of Madrid Fusión, he was honored by the panel for defending the biodiversity of Peru and Latin America, and he was invited as a main speaker for the 2011 edition of Madrid Fusión. In 2018, Acurio was honored with the Diners® Club Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards and the international Eckart Witzigmann Award (ECKART) for “Innovation” with his wife, Astrid Gutsche.

With Lima becoming the gastronomical capital of South America, Acurio led the Mistura culinary festival in 2011, which drew more than 200,000 people from around the world. He served as president of APEGA (the Peruvian Gastronomy Society), which runs Mistura, until 2013. Today, he is still involved in the organization as a member of the board.

Acurio is the main supporter of the Pachacutec School of Cuisine based in one of the least fortunate areas in Lima, which provides underprivileged young people with a culinary institute with leading instructors.

As a writer, Acurio has published 20 best-selling books. His latest publication, 500 Años de Fusión (500 Years of Fusion), was considered the best cookbook worldwide at the 2008 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.