Rafael Rincón

Winner of the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 'Icon Award' 2022, the social gastronomy pioneer based in Chile has a proven history and commitment to promoting a social gastronomy movement in Chile and beyond, by building on the inclusive nature of cuisine and community.

In 2005, Madrid-born Rincon founded Fundación Gastronomía Social. It's a non-profit organisation that offers current and future hospitality workers, entrepreneurs, companies, and academics access to training in environmental, social and health awareness, as well as promoting food safety, social inclusion and environmental sustainability through its programmes and initiatives.

During the pandemic, he founded Comida Para Todos Chile, a solidarity network that helped feed hungry communities and support restaurants through difficult times.

He is also the organiser of Ñam, Chile’s biggest annual culinary festival, which has been held since 2011 and celebrates Chilean and Ibero-American food heritage, a concept replicated in Bolivia since 2019.