Pía León Named World’s Best Female Chef 2021

Pía León, chef-owner of Lima’s Kjolle, co-owner of Central and former Best Female Chef in Latin America, has been named the World's Best Female Chef ahead of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, on 5 October in Antwerp, Flanders.

The 34-year-old chef and mother forms half of the Peruvian powerhouse team, alongside husband Virgilio Martinez, at the helm of former Latin America's Best Restaurant, Central - a title which it held for three consecutive years - and was instrumental in setting up Mil restaurant in Cusco. The pair are also working on new restaurants in the Amazon, Russia and Japan. 

León launched her first solo endeavour Kjolle in the Peruvian capital three years ago, where she has had the opportunity to create her own culinary identity. The food at Kjolle takes a more relaxed approach, with a nine-course tasting menu and an à la carte menu using ingredients from all over Peru. The restaurant received the Highest New Entry Award on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 list when it debuted at no.21, just 15 months after opening.