[Tokyo, Kioicho MAZ] World's No. 1 Cuisine While in Japan. MAZ Producer Virgilio Martinez to Visit Japan for Event in August

Virgilio Martinez, the representative chef of South America and producer of "MAZ," will visit Japan to hold a special event.

"Central" in Lima, Peru, led by Martinez, was ranked No. 1 in "The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023," becoming the first restaurant in South America to reach the top of the global rankings. It is a restaurant that attracts gourmets worldwide, and opportunities to experience its worldview in Japan have been rare until now.

This event will allow guests to experience the breadth of Mater's worldview through a course inspired by its various projects. These include "Central," as well as "Kjolle," "MIL," "Mater," "Masi," and "MAZ," all produced by Martinez. Each project embodies years of collaboration and research in Peru's diverse lands, along with their unique stories.

Furthermore, Martinez himself will be in the MAZ kitchen, sharing his culinary philosophy and research background, and together with the MAZ team, will create a special experience unique to this occasion.

This experience, held exclusively at MAZ in Tokyo, is designed to allow guests to fully immerse themselves in the "Mater Universe" worldview, where research in Peru, biodiversity, and culinary exploration meet Japanese culture and ingredients.

Experience Martinez's worldview in Tokyo's Kioicho without having to travel to South America.

-- A unique three-day event made possible only by MAZ.

Event Overview

Mater Universe by Central: Tasting the Projects

A special tasting course will be prepared, born from the encounter and intersection of Peru's diverse ecosystems, created by its altitudinal differences, and Japan's rich natural environment woven by its four seasons.

Enjoy a unique dining experience that combines seasonal Japanese ingredients with rare ingredients selected from the Amazon and the Andes, with each dish reflecting the distinct landscapes and ingredients found at different altitudes.

Event Name

Mater Universe by Central: Tasting the Projects

Theme

Peruvian Verticality × Japanese Horizontality

Date and Time

August 4 (Tue), 5 (Wed), 6 (Thu), 2026

August 4 (Tue)

[Dinner] 18:30 / 19:00 / 19:30

August 5 (Wed) & 6 (Thu)

[Lunch] 12:00 / 12:30 / 13:00

[Dinner] 18:30 / 19:00 / 19:30

Location

MAZ

Tokyo Garden Terrace 3F, 1-1-3 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Course

Course with Alcohol Pairing

Course with Non-Alcoholic Pairing

Price

110,000 yen (tax included, plus 10% service charge)

Reservations

Table Check

OMAKASE

Virgilio Martinez

An internationally acclaimed Peruvian chef who has communicated the value of Peru's biodiversity and ecosystems to the world through gastronomy. After gaining experience in restaurants worldwide, he returned to Peru to re-engage with the land's climate, culture, and ingredients. The philosophy centered on altitude, which characterizes his current cuisine, emerged from this exploration. He opened "Central" in Lima, Peru, in 2008, co-founded "MIL" with Pía León in 2018, and opened "MAZ" in Tokyo in 2022. In 2013, he co-founded the bio-cultural research institute "Mater" with his sister Malena Martinez, and in 2025, launched "Masi" to extend its philosophy beyond the kitchen through experiences and products.

[Central]

- The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 No. 1

- Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2021, 2022 No. 1

- Restaurant of the Decade, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021

Featured on Chef’s Table, Season 3 (Netflix)

Central

Opened in 2008 in the Barranco district of Lima. After being ranked in "The World's 50 Best Restaurants" for seven consecutive years, it achieved No. 1 in "The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023," becoming the first restaurant in South America to reach the global pinnacle. It is highly regarded internationally for its pioneering approach exploring diverse ecosystems and altitudinal differences. The tasting menu, which expresses research into Peru's biodiversity, climate, and bio-cultural knowledge, is structured like a journey based on altitude, using ingredients collected from environments ranging from 15 meters below sea level to 4,200 meters above sea level.

- The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 No. 1

- Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2021, 2022 No. 1

- Restaurant of the Decade, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021

Kjolle

Opened in 2018 on the second floor of "Central." Pía León, Virgilio Martinez's wife, launched "Kjolle" as her own project after serving as chef at "Central." It is currently ranked No. 2 in Latin America and No. 9 globally in "The World's 50 Best Restaurants." León is the first and only female chef to lead a top 10 global restaurant. Co-leading "MIL" with Martinez and serving as co-director of "Mater," León has built a cuisine guided by curiosity, delicate sensibility, and a deep connection to the people and land of Peru. Based on ongoing research by Mater, Kjolle expresses Peru's rich biodiversity through creative tasting menus that celebrate its countless diverse ingredients.

- The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 No. 9

- Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2026 No. 2

MIL

Established in 2018 by Malena Martinez, Virgilio Martinez, and Pía León. Located next to the Moray ruins in Cusco, Peru, at an altitude of 3,568 meters, this restaurant is also a research project. It explores the Andes through gastronomy, deciphering high-altitude ingredients and techniques through collaboration with local communities and incorporating indigenous knowledge. It is a place that connects research, landscape, and cuisine into a single experience.

Mater

Established in 2013 by Virgilio Martinez, Pía León, and Malena Martinez, who currently serves as director. It is a bio-cultural research institute that studies Peru's ecosystems to create new forms of creativity. It is a research institution that investigates, interprets, and experiments to gain a deeper understanding of Peruvian ingredients and their origins. With the motto "Afuera Hay Más" (There is more outside), it conducts investigations in various locations, from the depths of the Amazon to the highlands of the Andes, with the aim of "managing knowledge about food and culture and making discoveries accessible to everyone." Mater generates knowledge through the intersection of various fields, and its findings lead to projects and experiences at Central, Kjolle, MIL, MAZ, and Masi.

Masi

A project launched in 2025 that transforms Mater's research into experiences and products. It functions as a platform for testing various ideas and translating them into concrete forms, expanding the possibilities of knowledge born from the land. This knowledge is also reflected in the concepts of Central, Kjolle, and MIL.

MAZ

Opened in July 2022. Developed by Virgilio Martinez and his research institute Mater Iniciativa, it is an innovative restaurant offering a new interpretation of Peru's biodiversity. Virgilio found an affinity between Japan's diverse food culture and climate and Peru. Its unique experience, expressing the similarities and differences between the two through each dish, has captivated gourmets and cultural figures worldwide, and its concept has been recognized in Tokyo, attracting attention both domestically and internationally.

[Store Overview] Store Name: MAZ Address: Tokyo Garden Terrace Kioicho 3F, 1-1-3 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0094 Access: 1 minute walk from Exit D of Akasaka-mitsuke Station (Tokyo Metro), directly connected to Exit 9a of Nagatacho Station (Tokyo Metro) Business Hours: 17:00 - 23:00 Regular Holidays: Irregular Seating Capacity: 20 seats URL: https://maztokyo.jp instagram: @maz.tokyo

[Company Overview] Company Name: Granada Inc. Representative: Yuji Shimoyama, Representative Director Location: 6F, The Parklex Shintomi-cho, 1-9-6 Shintomi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Established: June 12, 2000 Business Activities: Restaurant management, food service consulting URL: https://www.granada-jp.net/