Gastón Acurio

An icon of Peruvian cuisine, Acurio owns more than 40 restaurants across 12 countries, including the reknowned Astrid & Gastón. He fervently believes in cooking as a tool for social change. He is widely recognized for his philanthropic endeavours, such as the cooking school he founded in Pachacútec, a suburb of Lima, as well as his passion for cultural, social and environmental causes. For example, in 2011 Acurio led a campaign against genetically modified crops in Peru. The campaign was ultimately successful in Peru where these products were banned for 10 years.