Daily Mail: Daily Mail

In a part of the world famed for its cuisine, it was always going to be a tough call.

But Peru has beaten off stiff competition from its South American neighbours to be named the continent's Leading Culinary Destination.

The accolade was presented at the Caribbean and The Americas ceremony at the World Travel Awards, set up to 'acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry'.
Peru mountains

The worldwide awards will be announced in December.

Other nominees for the South American prize included Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Peruvian cuisine - which includes quinoa, a staple with health enthusiasts - is growing in popularity on the world's gastronomic stage.

The country has a long culinary history, dating back to the Incas and beyond.
Causa

From the rice, fowl and goat dishes in the north coastal regions, to the potato, sweetcorn, chilli pepper and guinea pig of the Andes, there's a gastronomic tradition to match every landscape.

Cultural changes have also helped to shape the cooking, with Spanish, Arab, African, Chinese and Italian influences infusing recipes.

This summer saw the opening of chef Virgilio Martinez's Lima London in Fitzrovia, and fellow native Gastón Acurio has launched restaurants in a number of South American capitals and farther afield in San Francisco and Madrid.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Martinez said: 'I think we are starting to see Peruvian restaurants everywhere, but when I last went to London I found that, even though the whole gastronomic scene is amazing, there was very little contact in terms of food, arts or culture between Peruvians and Londoners.

'The food revolution in Lima is increasing and we need to make a noise about it.'

The winners are voted for by consumers, who nominate from a list compiled by travel experts.