Mario Céspedes
Peruvian chef from Lima behind Ronda 14, Cilindro and Apura in Madrid, fusing Asturian, Peruvian and nikkei cooking with partner Conchi Álvarez.
- Restaurants
- 3
- Born
- 1985 · Lima
Mario Céspedes, born in Lima, Peru, in 1985, is the chef behind Ronda 14, a Peruvian-Asturian-nikkei restaurant in Madrid's Castellana neighbourhood. He trained in Lima's kitchens before moving to Spain in 2006, and met his business partner Conchi Álvarez in Asturias, where the two opened the first Ronda 14 in Avilés in 2011. The concept reached Madrid in 2015, and the pair have since opened Cilindro and Apura, also in Madrid.
Biography
Early years
Céspedes was born in Lima, Peru, in 1985, and got interested in food as a child around Lima's Central Market and his mother's Sunday lunches.
Career
He started at Costa Verde, a well-known restaurant in Lima, and worked in various cevicherías and criollo restaurants there before moving to Spain in 2006, drawn by the country's culinary boom. "Vine aquí por el boom gastronómico de la comida española y para formarme" (I came here for Spain's culinary boom, to train myself), he's said. He met Conchi Álvarez in Asturias, and the two opened the first Ronda 14 in Avilés in 2011, fusing Asturian cooking with Peruvian nikkei technique. The concept reached Madrid's Castellana neighbourhood in 2015, and the pair went on to open Cilindro and Apura, also in Madrid, plus a further Ronda 14 location in Pozuelo de Alarcón.
Philosophy
"Aprovechaba el tiempo al máximo. Toda mi vida giraba en torno a la cocina" (I made the most of my time. My entire life revolved around cooking): Céspedes, on his approach to the kitchen. Ronda 14's menu runs to gyozas, baos, tiraditos and sushi, and Céspedes has described the founding idea as breaking with the formality of haute cuisine.
Mario Céspedes in our guides
Editorial guides featuring Mario Céspedes’s restaurants.
Frequently asked
Who is the chef at Ronda 14 in Madrid?
Mario Céspedes, who co-founded the original Ronda 14 in Avilés in 2011 with Conchi Álvarez, before the Peruvian-Asturian-nikkei concept expanded to Madrid in 2015.
What kind of food does Ronda 14 serve?
A blend of Asturian cuisine, Peruvian gastronomy, and Japanese nikkei technique, including menu dishes such as gyozas, baos, tiraditos and sushi rolls.
Where is Mario Céspedes from?
He is Peruvian, born in Lima in 1985, and met his business partner Conchi Álvarez in Asturias before they opened the original Ronda 14 in Avilés together.
When did Mario Céspedes move to Spain?
In 2006, drawn by Spain's culinary boom; he trained in Spanish kitchens before meeting Conchi Álvarez in Asturias and opening Ronda 14 with her in 2011.
What other restaurants does Mario Céspedes run?
Alongside Ronda 14 in Madrid and Avilés, Céspedes and Conchi Álvarez run Cilindro and Apura in Madrid, plus a Ronda 14 location in Pozuelo de Alarcón.
Where did Mario Céspedes train before Ronda 14?
He started at Costa Verde, a well-known restaurant in Lima, and worked in various cevicherías and criollo restaurants there before moving to Spain in 2006.