Latin America leads Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
‘México, una herencia de sabores’ is one 37 Latin American titles shortlisted at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards this year. — AFP picPARIS, Jan 3 — While the US and France have traditionally been the international leaders in cookbooks, Latin America is showing signs of becoming a formidable player in the realm, as it leads the charge in this year’s Gourmand World Cookbook Awards and worldwide interest in the region’s cuisine continues to steal the culinary spotlight.
Of the 283 finalists from 71 countries at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, Latin American books topped the shortlist with 37 finalists, followed by the US and France. The finalists were announced in the January issue of Gourmand Magazine.
Trendspotters and restaurant consultant groups have cited Latin American gastronomy as one of the top food trends expected to dominate the dining scene in 2012. The eclectic fusion of Asian and Peruvian flavors are predicted to become particularly popular around the world, propelled mainly by Peru’s culinary ambassador, celebrity chef Gaston Acurio.
Similarly, as one of the emerging economic powerhouses with a burgeoning middle class, interest in Brazilian cuisine is also on the rise.
Finalists from Latin America include Peruvian chef Rafael Osterling’s Rafael, El Chef; Francisco Fantini’s Chilean cookbook Patagonian Cuisine; and Mexican cookbook México, una Herencia de sabores (“Mexico: A Heritage of Taste”) by Susanna Palazuelos.
Meanwhile, cookbooks out of China and South Africa were also singled out for quickly catching up to the standards of award-winning titles, while the quality of Australian cookbooks continues to be “outstanding.”
Winners will be announced March 6 at a red-tie affair at the Folies Bergère in Paris. — AFP-Relaxnews
