After Hélène Darroze (2015), Dominique Crenn (2016), Ana Roš (2017), Clare Smyth (2018), Daniela Soto-Innes (2019) and Pìa Leòn (2021), the title of best female chef in the world of the World's 50 Best Restaurants remains in South America, since it is awarded to the Colombian Leonor Espinosa.
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Aged 59 and owner of the Leo restaurant in Bogota, the one who had already won the prize for best female chef in Latin America at the 50 Best in 2017
“values, through her cuisine, local products and ingredients from biodiversity. Colombian”
indicates the British classification in a press release.
Sabanero pork, red beans from La Guajira.
Jorge H. Gonzalez,
A figure of new Colombian cuisine, she moved and relaunched last year, in the upscale Chapinero district of Bogota, her restaurant Leo, which opened in 2005.
“Leonor Espinosa has become one of the most emblematic of his generation, defending like no other the biodiversity and cultural diversity of his country.
Combining in-depth scientific research and culinary innovation, she is a self-taught chef always on the lookout for new knowledge that she can then pass on.”
commented William Drew, Chief Content Officer of World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Leo is ranked 46th in the latest 50 Best.
The interior of Leo, in Bogota.
Simon Bosch
Leonor Espinosa is also at the origin, since 2008, with his daughter Laura Hernández-Espinosa, of the Funleo foundation, which contributes to reviving the food knowledge and ancestral culinary techniques of the indigenous and Afro-Colombian populations.
"I receive this award with great joy because now my voice will be able to be heard a little more, which will allow me to continue to make gastronomy a preponderant instrument in the achievement of socio-economic well-being, especially in the developing countries."
said Leonor Espinosa.
Other special prizes will be revealed by July 18, ahead of the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2022 ranking, whose awards ceremony will be held at Old Billingsgate market in the City of London.