Marsia Taha is Latin America's Rising Star Female Chef 2021

Marsia Taha, head chef at restaurant/social enterprise project Gustu in La Paz, Bolivia, has been named Latin America's Rising Star Female Chef 2021 ahead of the virtual awards ceremony on 22 November.

The Bolivian chef joined Gustu in 2015, succeeding former head chef Kamilla Seidler - herself a former winner of the Latin America's Best Female Chef Award - in 2017. Taha is recognised for her work as co-founder of Sabores Silvestres, a multidisciplinary group of chefs, biologists, ethnobotanists, agronomists and scientists who seek to research, understand and preserve Bolivian products and food heritage.

“This award is a great honour for me and my team, because it provides a platform to promote the richness of Bolivian produce and some of the ancient techniques that are on the verge of extinction,” said Taha. “It is our mission to put Bolivia on the culinary map and bring its native ingredients to the world. I also hope I can use this opportunity to inspire others to pursue their dreams.”

This is a one-off award, replacing the annual Latin America's Best Female Chef Award for this year only, and Taha was picked from a shortlist of five female chefs in Latin America.

Meet Taha in the clip below: