WikiPeru • The Encyclopedia of Peru
The AIgorythm project
Playwright and actor
Novelist
Writer and poet
Volleyball player
Italian-Peruvian naturalist and geographer
Singer and percussionist
Last Inca emperor
Politician, former prime Minister
Journalist and TV host
Poet
Inca warrior
Actor and comedian
Biophysicist
Poet
Doctor and researcher
Businessman, Interbank group
Journalist and writer
Poet and writer
Singer and songwriter
Writer
Film director, Berlin Golden Bear winner
Football player
Writer and journalist
Doctor and scientist
Photograph
Chess player
Industrialist
Former general
Specialist in public health
Actress and singer
Afro-Peruvian music singer
Mathematician and engineer
Indigenous chronicler
Neurologist and anthropologist
Painter
Football player
National hero, military leader
Intellectual and reformer
Chef and entrepreneur
Fashion designer
Singer-songwriter
TV presenter
Marathon runner
Indigenous Peruvian chronicler
Theologian
Former national team captain
Economist and former health minister
Inca princess
Writer and television host
Folk musician
Poet and guerrilla
Former UN secretary-general
Chef, known for fusion cuisine
Football player
Peruvian aviation pioneer
Poet and artist
Marxist philosopher and writer
Industrialist and businessman
Novelist and ethnologist
Painter and muralist
Opera tenor
Fashion designer
Cardinal of Lima
Peruvian tennis player
Football coach
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Military hero
War of the Pacific hero
The youngest mother in history
Politician
Creole music singer
Tennis player
Musician
Writer and politician
Politician and founder of the Christian Democratic Party
Founder of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae
Archaeologist and anthropologist
Military leader and politician
Television host
Actress and singer
Contemporary sculptor
Women’s rights activist
Beauty queen
Astrophysicist
Heroine of independence
Mathematician and archaeologist
Historian and anthropologist
Military figure and historical figure
Fashion photographer
Writer, Nobel Prize in Literature, Politician
Revolutionary leader
Environmental activist
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Musician from Gaia band
War hero
Military leader and politician
Chef, known for Nikkei cuisine
Volleyball coach and former player
Environmental activist
Television personality
Writer
Football player
Epidemiologist and former health Minister
Inventor and aerospace pioneer
Soldier and inventor
Rock singer
Chef and co-owner of Central restaurant
Painter
Football player
TV presenter and actress
Actor
Writer and historian
Journalist and lawyer
Archaeologist, founder of Caral site
Monk and Saint
Saint, patron of Latin America
Physicist and engineer
World champion surfer
Actress
Oncologist
Singer, Latin Grammy winner
Former mayor of Lima
Singer
Actress
Former football player
Painter
Former football player
Painter
Inca leader
Archbishop, saint
Leader of the indigenous rebellion
Revolutionary indigenous leader
Diplomat and intellectual
Sculptor and painter
Political leader, founder of APRA
Lawyer and Former prime minister
Chef of Central restaurant
Former head of secret services
Popular singer
Fashion designer
Exotic music singer
Pía León, born in Lima in 1986, is one of the emerging figures in global gastronomy. Known for being the chef of her own restaurant, Kjolle, and also co-chef at the famous Central restaurant, she has quickly gained an international reputation for her innovative culinary creations and bold approach to Peruvian ingredients. In 2021, she was named the best chef in the world by the prestigious 50 Best list, confirming her status as one of the most influential chefs of her generation. Her commitment to sustainability and exploration of Peru's native products has redefined modern cuisine, inspiring chefs and diners worldwide.
Born into a food-loving family, Pía León developed an early passion for gastronomy. After studying at the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Lima, she began her career working in renowned restaurants around the world, including El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, before returning to Peru.
Her return to Lima marked the beginning of her partnership with famed chef Virgilio Martínez, her husband, at the restaurant Central. Together, they formed a dynamic duo, showcasing Peru's biodiversity and creating dishes that integrate local ingredients from different regions of the country, from The Andes to the Amazon.
In 2018, Pía León opened her own restaurant, Kjolle, located in the same complex as Central in Lima. Unlike Central, which focuses on exploring Peru's ecosystems, Kjolle offers a more personal approach to Pía León's cooking. The name Kjolle refers to an Andean tree with vibrant flowers, symbolizing Pía's connection to her Peruvian roots and nature.
At Kjolle, Pía León moves away slightly from the scientific approach of Central and focuses more on intuition and creativity. Each dish is a celebration of Peruvian colors, textures, and flavors, offering diners a sensory journey through the diversity of local ingredients.
Pía León's success was swift. In 2021, she was named the World's Best Female Chef by the World's 50 Best list, an award that recognizes her exceptional talent and pioneering role in gastronomy. Her restaurant, Kjolle, has quickly become one of Lima's most sought-after dining destinations, attracting gourmets from around the world eager to experience her unique cuisine.
Her rise to prominence is also marked by her contributions to Virgilio Martínez's culinary projects, including Mil, a restaurant located in the Peruvian Andes, where she explores local ingredients from the highlands alongside him.
Like her husband, Pía León is deeply committed to sustainability and preserving natural resources. She works closely with local producers and indigenous communities to ensure that the ingredients she uses are environmentally friendly. This ethical approach is at the heart of her work, and she advocates for cuisine that values not only local products but also the people who cultivate them.
Through her work, Pía León aims to show that food can be a way to preserve Peru's culture and traditions while creating new and innovative culinary experiences.
With her career on the rise, Pía León is undoubtedly one of the most promising chefs on the global culinary scene. Her approach to cooking, which combines creativity, respect for ingredients, and cultural sensitivity, makes her a pioneer in modern gastronomy. Her work at Kjolle, as well as her collaboration with Virgilio Martínez, continues to redefine how the world perceives Peruvian cuisine.
As an innovative and committed chef, Pía León represents a new generation of chefs who highlight the natural and cultural wealth of their country while pushing the boundaries of culinary creativity. Her future is bright, and she will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of global gastronomy.