Expressing a dining experience in a vertical way, through the categorisation of men items by altitude, might seem obvious today, but truly was a paradigm shift at the time Chef Martinez decided to introduce it. In addition, he made sure to pay homage not only to his country and its many regions, but to nature as well. His reinvented menu invites guests to choose between eleven or seventeen elevations that are carefully selected to paint the image of Peru using each of the guests’ senses. As there are over 150 menu ingredients, approximately half which are unknown to the general public, the diner needs to accept that a flavour reference is not always possible. What distinguishes Central is not artistic presentation, but the complete immersion of guests into Peruvian heritage and what is closest to Chef Martinez’s heart.
Today people travel from internationally recognized destinations such as New York, Paris and Tokyo to experience mystery at Central. The international recognition truly puts the restaurant on the map, but this is not the reason why Chef Martinez continues his work, though it does facilitate the conversation he intends to achieve with his global audience. During our interview in September, Chef Martinez highlighted that the people of Peru are his inspiration and the true reason he continues his work. When asked if he is happy, he humbly responds by saying that he cannot be happy when the people of Peru are not.
Ultimately, this merging of artistry and humanitarianism is exactly what separates Chef Martinez from the crowd and will undoubtedly determine the future of gastronomy.
By Kenan Olovcic