Colombian chef Leonor Espinosa was awarded the prestigious Terrae Award 2025 during a ceremony held at the International Rural Gastronomy Meeting in Gran Canaria, Spain. This event, which gathers prominent chefs and producers from around the world, is a platform dedicated to celebrating and promoting gastronomy linked to rural environments.
Espinosa received the award during the third edition of the Terrae Rural Gastronomy Congress, which featured the participation of chefs and producers from the 17 autonomous communities of Spain, as well as from Portugal and Italy. During the ceremony, the chef emphasized the importance of maintaining a close connection with rural areas and fostering direct contact with natural resources. In her words, while the future of gastronomy will be shaped by technology, its essence will remain rooted in rural traditions.
Colombian chef Leonor Espinosa wins Terrae Award 2025
Leonor Espinosa was honored with the Terrae Award 2025 for her outstanding work in preserving the culinary traditions of indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in Colombia. This recognition also highlights her efforts through Funleo, her foundation dedicated to promoting biodiversity and the culinary practices of these communities. Additionally, her work underscores her commitment to sustainability and innovation in Colombian cuisine.
The chef has focused her efforts on valuing the natural and rural environment, encouraging communities to preserve their culinary traditions and inspiring young people to explore the unique stories and flavors of their regions. Her restaurant, LEO, located in Bogotá, offers a menu inspired by these cultural traditions, creating a gastronomic experience that honors the roots of various regions in Colombia.
What are the Terrae Awards?
The Terrae Awards are distinctions given during the International Rural Gastronomy Meeting, an event that celebrates the interrelationship between cooking and rural environments. This forum brings together chefs, local producers, and culinary experts with the goal of highlighting the value of culinary traditions, local products, and sustainability in gastronomy. The Terrae Awards recognize influential figures who have made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of rural and social gastronomy.