A taste of Peru at Melbourne Food & Wine Festival

Melbourne is about to get a flavour of Peru with award-winning chef Virgilio Martinez making his debut at this year’s Melbourne Food & Wine Festival. Hosting his ‘From the Amazon to the Andes’ event, he will join celebrated chefs from around the globe during the Langham Melbourne Masterclass event on March 9-10, including Sweden’s Magnus Nilsson, France’s Bertrand Grébaut and Mexico’s Enrique Olvera.

	Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez in Melbourne.

Martinez’s masterclasses, showcasing his award-winning gastronomic skills and passion for his homegrown cuisine, offer guests an exclusive chance to discover Peruvian gastronomy and its intricate heritage.

A former pro-skateboarder turned chef, he is redefining traditional Peruvian cooking, using lessons learnt from 10 years of travelling across the globe and working in restaurants such as Spain’s Can Fabes and Peru’s Astrid Y Gastón. He currently operates two acclaimed restaurants: Central Restaurante in the trendy Lima neighbourhood of Miraflores, in addition to his most recent London-based venture, Lima.

Martinez recently made his mark in the gastronomic circles by claiming last year’s ‘The One To Watch’ award in The World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards, and will be on a quest to highlight the great diversity of produce in Peru during his Melbourne appearances.

Peru’s unique and exquisite cuisine has become a reason to visit the country for travellers around the globe, with Lima being regarded as the gastronomic capital of South America. The country is fast becoming the next culinary epicentre with a spotlight firmly fixed on the innovation of chefs.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festiva is on March 1-17; visit www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au.

Source: Restaurant & Catering Magazine, 6 March 2013