#FOURNEWS: Alex Atala scoops Lifetime Achievement Award Latin America 2014

12 Aug 2014
|
< 1 min read
Master of Brazilian cuisine, Alex Atala is set to be presented with the much-coveted Diners Club Lifetime Achievement Award during the ceremony for Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants which takes place this September 3rd in Lima, Peru.

From the kitchen of D.O.M. in São Paulo, the chef has pushed the boundaries of Brazilian cuisine, gaining critical acclaim both at home and abroad, and even changing the attitude Brazilian restaurants had towards their own traditional fare. Last year, his flagship restaurant ranked number two in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. In 2014, D.O.M is positioned in seventh place in the list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

D.O.M. (Latin acronym that stands for Deo Optimo Maximo: “To the greatest and best god”) was opened in 1999 by Alex Atala with the aim of changing the modern history of Brazilian cuisine. At that time, many of the restaurants in São Paulo disdained the country’s own larder: ingredients such as açai, pupunha or cupuaçu were out of favour. Atala chose to capture the true essence of Brazil, with all its flavours, colours, textures and smells, of course; in other words, to celebrate what his country produces.

Speaking on the awards Alex says: “I feel very happy and extremely honoured to receive the Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award. I hope that with this recognition, Latin America’s gastronomy gains a louder voice and that its strength is shown. I also hope that with this award, people see the power of ingredients to drive social change and, especially, that by structuring the food chain, it’s possible to place greater value on our culture and environment.”

To read more, visit