Virgilio Martínez, Central

Virgilio Martínez Véliz (Lima, Peru, August 31, 1977) is a Peruvian chef and businessman and one of the representatives of the new generation of Peruvian chefs promoting the spread of Peruvian gastronomy. He is known for the use of Peruvian ingredients in his style that he defines as "market cuisine" or "signature cuisine". According to Marie Claire magazine, he is "the new star of the Gastronomic firmament of Lima," and "a new king in the country of ceviche," according to La Tercera de Chile. In 2017, his Central restaurant was located in the number 5 of the Fifty Best Restaurants in the World by Restaurant Magazine, and number 1 in Latin America. In 2017 he was also recognized "with the Chefs' Choice award, an award that is decided according to the vote of the chefs all over the world world".