Countdown to Latin America's 50 Best Restaurant Awards

The countdown to the first-ever Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants Awards has started! 

After we've been following the World's 50 Best Restaurants and Asia's 50 Best Restaurant awards sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna, here is a look to Latin America's fine dining scene. The award ceremony will take place in Lima, Perú on September 4th featuring the talent of chefs from 31 countries up and down between Mexico and Argentina. See the full list of participating countries here.

Organizers have already kicked off the celebration by announcing a few of the awards ahead of the big day. Internationally renown chef Gastón Acurio from Perú has been named the recipient of The Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award for his numerous accomplishments in his country and abroad. Brazilian chef Helena Rizzo has been awarded Veuve Clicquot Latin America's Best Female Chef  for her work at Mani restaurant in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Acurio's restaurant Astrid & Gastón ranks 14th on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. Rizzo's Mani comes in at number 46th on the list.

Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants will also see the following individual award categories: The Cusqueña Best Restaurant in Latin America, Chefs’ Choice Award sponsored by Telefónica, One to Watch Award sponsored by BBVA, and individual country awards.

You should keep your eye out for these talented chefs who shined at this year's World's 50 Best Restaurants awards:

• Brazil's Alex Atala from D.O.M., the sixth best restaurant in the world. Atala currently holds the title of the best chef in South America. D.O.M. received the Acqua Panna Best Restaurant in South America award in 2013.
• Mexico's Enrique Olvera, chef at Pujol restaurant with ranks 17th on the World's Best Restaurants list.
• Mikel Alonso from Mexico. His restaurant Biko holds the 31st spot on the list.
• Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez from Central, number 50 on the list.