Tomás de la Paz
Chilean chef leading the kitchen at Yakumanka by Gastón Acurio in Barcelona — Acurio's disciple at the city's most-cited Peruvian restaurant.
- Restaurants
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Tomás de la Paz is the Chilean chef who has led the kitchen at Yakumanka Barcelona since 2017. Acurio's disciple, he trained at Mugaritz in Spain after pivoting from architectural design to cooking. Yakumanka Barcelona is widely cited as the most influential Peruvian restaurant in the city and carries a Repsol Recomendado.
Biography
Early years
Born in Viña del Mar to a family linked to the port of Valparaíso, de la Paz initially studied architectural design — but his real vocation was cooking. The turning point came in 2013 when he visited Mistura, Peru's largest gastronomic fair, and was captivated by the work of Gastón Acurio.
Career
De la Paz became Acurio's disciple, working closely with him over the following years. He also trained in the kitchen of Mugaritz in Spain. Since Yakumanka opened in Barcelona in 2017 he has led the kitchen day-to-day — working to balance Peruvian tradition with the best local Catalan product. Yakumanka Barcelona has served over 100,000 cebiches and is widely cited as the most influential Peruvian restaurant in the city.
Philosophy
De la Paz cooks in the Acurio register — Peruvian product and technique treated without compromise — adapted to Catalan sourcing. The Yakumanka cebichería format pairs traditional Peruvian preparations with the freshest available local product.
Restaurants
On Guidavera
1Accolades
- ·Head chef at Yakumanka Barcelona since 2017 (Repsol Recomendado)
- ·Trained at Mugaritz and under Gastón Acurio
Frequently asked
Does Tomás de la Paz have a Michelin star?
No — Yakumanka Barcelona carries a Repsol Recomendado.
Where can I eat Tomás de la Paz's cuisine in Barcelona?
Yakumanka, the Gastón Acurio cebichería brand in Barcelona, where he has led the kitchen since 2017.