Gastronomic journalist and director of the gastronomic web 7 Canibales, Esperanza Peláez joined the jury of the 1st Americas Young Chef Award, which took place in Manabí, World Region of Gastronomy 2026, from 8-12 October 2026.
Esperanza Peláez is a Spanish journalist and the director of the gastronomic website 7 Caníbales. She began her career in journalism at the newspaper El País (Spain), where she published her first recipes and articles on cooking. She later joined Vocento Gastronomía, where she works in consulting, project development, and talent scouting. In 2024, she succeeded Ignacio Medina as head of the Latin American edition of 7 Caníbales, and in 2026, she assumed the directorship of the website for both its Spanish and Latin American editions.
She is the founder of the Club Gastronómico Kilómetro Cero (Kilometer Zero Gastronomic Club), based in Málaga, which develops gastronomic leisure projects rooted in a philosophy of showcasing local talent, boosting the agricultural economy, and promoting women’s empowerment. She has spearheaded initiatives to pass on traditional culinary knowledge to younger generations—such as “Sabor del Pasado, Saber del Futuro” (Taste of the Past, Knowledge of the Future, 2015–2017), in collaboration with the Obra Social “la Caixa”—as well as projects aimed at the economic revitalization of disadvantaged neighborhoods in Andalusia through traditional cuisine, such as “Flavours of Málaga” (2018–2019), carried out in partnership with the TUI Care Foundation and Saxion University (the Netherlands). She is the author of several books on traditional Andalusian cuisine.
Describing her vision for the 1st Americas Young Chef Award 2026, Esperanza shares:
“For me, serving on the jury for the Americas Young Chef Awards is a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with the emerging talent and trends across the continent. My work as an editor for 7 Caníbales Latam has reinforced my conviction that Latin America is the new, major voice in global gastronomy—and within Latin America, it is the new generation—well-trained and deeply aware of the value of their cultural heritage—that will ensure this voice resonates worldwide. This underscores the great strategic importance of this event, as well as the need for it to be effectively communicated both within and beyond the Latin American region.”
About IGCAT’s Young Chef Awards
The first ever Americas Young Chef Award is an expansion of its European version, an annual competition organised by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Art and Tourism (IGCAT) that gathers young culinary talents from the awarded and candidate European Regions of Gastronomy. This year, finalists from 7 different countries in the Americas came together in Manabí, World Region of Gastronomy 2026, to share their local food culture and test their skill in innovating a traditional dish from their region.
About the World & European Regions of Gastronomy
The World Regions of Gastronomy and the European Regions of Gastronomy, guided by IGCAT, are working together to strengthen food security through the celebration of distinctive food cultures; create employment by stimulating creativity and gastronomic innovation; nourish children and adults through culinary and cultural education; driving environmental sustainability in tourism, hospitality and agricultural sectors; supporting balance and sustainable tourism practices; highlighting and supporting expertise from within rural and urban communities, creating connections and sharing good practices; and contributing to community health and well-being.
About IGCAT
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance of protecting and promoting distinct regional food, culture, arts and natural assets as part of sustainable and balanced tourism and development strategies. This is essential to safeguarding our planet, health, wellness and local economies.
IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.
IGCAT is the official secretariat for the World Region of Gastronomy and the European Regions of Gastronomy Platforms. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award, the World Food Gift Challenge, the Top Foodie Websites Award and the international Food Film Menu.
