Giacomo Bocchio, current jury of the successful reality show ‘The Great Chef’, has generated controversy with a revelation. In a recent interview, Bocchio confessed that, despite his experience and recognition, he does not consider himself to be on the same level as Gastón Acurio, the most popular chef in Peru.
Isn’t Giacomo Bocchio on the same level as Gastón Acurio?
Giacomo Bocchio was interviewed by ‘Flaco’ Granda for his YouTube program and referred to Gaston Acurio and Virgilio Martínezowner of Central Restaurant.
Bocchio praised both colleagues for applying the strategy of inviting gastronomic journalists to taste their dishes, so that they can then talk about their experience in their restaurants around the world and can bring more tourists.
After that, Giacomo revealed that he does not feel at the same level as Gaston Acurio, about whom he told an anecdote. “He is older than me and he knows more than me. He is a great gastronomic entrepreneur. On some occasions I have gone two or three times to talk to him, I have asked him for an appointment to ask him questions regarding gastronomic topics, when he was 27 years old. He is very good people,” Bocchio noted.
Despite his statements, it is worth noting that Bocchio has had an important career in the culinary world since he was very young. In that sense, he worked in prestigious restaurants such as La Rosa Náutica, The Ritz-Carlton Naples, El Celler de Can Roca and DOM by Alex Atala. At age 26, he opened his own store Manifesto, which he later closed. But not only that, Bocchio plans to open his own cooking school and continues to innovate on his YouTube channel. Additionally, he is a chef instructor qualified by the Culinary Academy of France.
Did Giacomo Bocchio send a hint to Gastón Acurio?
In an interview, Giacomo Bocchiomade statements that many interpreted as a hint towards Gaston Acurio. The Tacna cooking expert told an anecdote about Jacques Benoit, a French chef who, after he retired, offered to teach at the Pachacutec cooking school, an initiative promoted by Acurio. However, Benoit never received a response to his proposal.
Bocchio suggested that the lack of response could be due to the fact that it was not convenient for Acurio to have an old-school chef, with great experience and recognition, appear on the Peruvian culinary scene. According to Bocchio, Benoit’s arrival may have been seen as a threat to the media prominence of other established chefs.

What did Gastón Acurio think of Giacomo Bocchio’s food?
Gaston AcurioHe tried Giacomo Bocchio’s food at his first restaurant Manifesto and was impressed. In an episode of the show ‘Culinary Adventure’, Acurio praised several of Bocchio’s dishes, which he described as ‘delicious’ and ‘very good’. He especially highlighted a dish made from anchovies and noted that it was something he could eat repeatedly without getting tired. Acurio congratulated Bocchio for his talent and creativity in the kitchen.