Gustu

Gustu
Map
Restaurant information
Established2012
Previous owner(s)Claus Meyer
Head chefJairo Michel and Kenzo Hirose
Marsia Taha (2012-2024)
Food typeModern Bolivian cuisine
Dress codeNone
Rating38 in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants
Street address300, Calle 10 Calacoto
CityLa Paz
CountryBolivia
Coordinates16°32′40″S 68°05′11″W / 16.544506°S 68.086482°W / -16.544506; -68.086482
ReservationsYes
Websitewww.gustu.bo

Gustu is a restaurant and bar in La Paz, Bolivia. Its name comes from the quechua word for flavour. It was founded by Claus Meyer and opened in April 2012 under Head Chef Marsia Taha.[1][2] It is considered among South America's 50 best restaurants.

History

Gustu opened its doors in April 2012 and soon was noticed by major international newspapers and magazines along with its founder Claus Meyer at the front.[3][4] Most noteworthy is the appearances in The New York Times,[5][6][7] The Guardian,[8][9][10] Financial Times,[11][12][13] Food and Wine,[14] Bloomberg,[15][16][17][18] Eater[19][20] and CNN.[21]

Being part of Melting Pot Bolivia, an NGO endeavor by Claus Meyer in cooperation with IBIS Denmark,[22] Gustu's mission is both restaurant and cooking school.[23][24] After they both experienced success, Gustu departed from Melting Pot Bolivia and IBIS Denmark.[25]

Melting Pot Bolivia and Gustu were the subject of the 2019 film A Taste of Sky, directed by Michael Lei.[26]

In October 2024, Marsia Taha resigned her position as Head Chef to open her first restaurant. Chefs Jairo Michel and Kenzo Hirose are now managing Gustu.[27]

Philosophy

The restaurant's motto and founding philosophy is: "We believe we can change the world through food."[28] This is something Claus Meyer implemented when he introduced the "Manifesto of the New Bolivian Cuisine".[29] Most of the students at Gustu are underprivileged Bolivian youngsters.[2][30]

The restaurant also applies a "kilometer 0" philosophy, meaning that all products used in their dishes and drinks are exclusively born, planted, developed, and transformed in Bolivia.[23][30]

Recognition

In 2013, Gustu won Best New Restaurant in South America and Best Restaurant in South America, from "Como Sur – South American Gastronomy".[31][32][33]

In 2014, it placed 32nd on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants in Restaurant Magazine,[34][35] and won the S. Pellegrino Best Restaurant award in Bolivia.[35] It again won Best Restaurant in South America from Como Sur – South American Gastronomy, [36] and Kamilla Seidler again won the award for Best Chef in South America.[36]

In 2015, it climbed 15 spots on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants and ranked 17th.

In 2017, it ranked 14th by British magazine Restaurant.[1]

In 2024, Gustu was ranked 38th on Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Interview with Kamilla Seidler, chef at Gustu (La Paz)". 29 May 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  2. ^ a b "Catching Up With The Chefs From Bolivia's Gustu | Como Sur | South American Gastronomy". Archived from the original on July 8, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  3. ^ "The Best of 2013: Gustu | Como Sur | South American Gastronomy". Archived from the original on April 3, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  4. ^ "Claus Meyer, el chef más famoso del mundo, abre Gustu en La Paz - La Razón". www.la-razon.com. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  5. ^ Neuman, William (2012-11-06). "In Bolivia, High Goals and Visions of Haute Cuisine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  6. ^ Gill, Nicholas (2014-06-05). "Chic Stops in the Suburbs of La Paz, Bolivia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  7. ^ "52 Places to Go in 2015". The New York Times. 2015-01-09. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  8. ^ Stocker, Ed (13 June 2013). "Gustu, Bolivia: the surprise restaurant venture by Noma's Claus Meyer". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  9. ^ Paz, Dan Collyns in La (5 April 2013). "Noma co-founder cooks up new scheme in Bolivia". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  10. ^ Stocker, Ed (15 June 2013). "A culinary tour of Bolivia: cooking with altitude". the Guardian. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  11. ^ Lander, Nicholas (May 17, 2013). "Gustu, Bolivia". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  12. ^ Schipani, Andres (December 4, 2014). "Bolivia's indigenous people flaunt their new-found wealth". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  13. ^ Mapstone, Naomi (April 2, 2013). "Bolivia calling all gastro tourists". Financial Times. Financial Times. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  14. ^ "Is Gustu the World's Best New Restaurant?". Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  15. ^ Sutton, Ryan (8 March 2013). "Noma Owner Opens Gustu in Bolivia to Replicate No. 1 Copenhagen". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  16. ^ "Gustu Brings Bolivia High-End Indigenous Cuisine". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  17. ^ "Noma's Next Act: Not Noma". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  18. ^ "Noma Owner Meyer Serves Llama at New Bolivian Shop". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  19. ^ "Claus Meyer's Gustu Aims to Elevate Bolivian Cuisine". Eater. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  20. ^ "Food Writers and Experts on the Untold Stories of 2013". Eater. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  21. ^ Español, Por CNN en (December 2014). "Gustu, el restaurante que puso a Bolivia en el mapa gastronómico". CNNEspañol.com. Retrieved 2015-07-09. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  22. ^ Cheshes, Jay (2013-12-05). "Claus Meyer's Food Empire". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  23. ^ a b "Kamilla Seidler: La cocina puede cambiar el mundo". Archived from the original on 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  24. ^ "Bolivia, entre los lugares imperdibles del mundo". Archived from the original on 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  25. ^ "Magacín Lifestyle junio 2015". Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  26. ^ איזיקוביץ, גילי (2019-12-28). ""רציתי להוכיח לעולם שאפשר לעשות הרבה במעט כסף ואומץ"". הארץ (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  27. ^ a b "Gustu | Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2024". 50B - Restaurants - LATAM. Retrieved 2025-01-03.
  28. ^ "The Bolivian Gastronomic Movement - Gustu Restaurant". restaurantgustu.com. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
  29. ^ "'Improving the World through Food': Bolivia's Gustu Restaurant". theculturetrip.com. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  30. ^ a b "Restaurante Gustu en La Paz". www.lostiempos.com. Archived from the original on 2015-07-12. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  31. ^ "Como Sur's Best Of 2013 Awards: THE RESULTS ARE IN! | Como Sur | South American Gastronomy". Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  32. ^ "(Best Of Year 1) Gustu, Part 2 | Como Sur | South American Gastronomy". Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  33. ^ "Gustu, simplemente el mejor restaurante - Diario Pagina Siete". Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  34. ^ "Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 1-50". www.theworlds50best.com. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  35. ^ a b "Gustu | Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants". www.theworlds50best.com. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  36. ^ a b "Como Sur Best of 2014 Awards: The Winners (PO / ES) | Como Sur | South American Gastronomy". Archived from the original on January 22, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-10.