His book ‘Flavors of Resistance’ shone at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2025.
News Colombia.
Colombian chef Rey Guerrero celebrated one of the most important achievements of his career after receiving the award for the best gastronomic literature book in the world, African-American category, thanks to his work “Flavors of Resistance, the cuisine of Rey Guerrero”in the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2025. The distinction positions him as one of the most influential voices of Afro-Colombian cuisine and highlights the cultural value of the Pacific in world gastronomy.
You may be interested in: December brings wildfire and stress for animals: these recommendations can help your four-legged companion
Guerrero, visibly moved, expressed that this recognition transcends the culinary realm. For him, the book represents an intimate journey through his family history and the roots that have marked his identity. “This book is my history, my cuisine, my past and my destiny,” he stated upon receiving the award, highlighting that each page includes not only recipes, but also struggle, memory and scars that have shaped his path.
The chef, who was born in Cali, but owes much of his upbringing to Buenaventura, recalled that getting to this point has not been easy. In his speech, he made reference to the difficult moments that have marked his life and career, but also to the “fire” that has sustained him in the hardest moments. His story resonated with the attendees, who recognized the human depth behind his culinary proposal.
For Guerrero, the award is also a tribute to his community and the territory that inspires him: the Colombian Pacific. He thanked those who have believed in him from the beginning and highlighted that the essence of his cuisine comes directly from that region that he carries “always with him.” This recognition, he said, also belongs to the people who have preserved the traditions that he shares with the world today.
The winning book combines personal stories with preparations that reinterpret ancestral knowledge of the Pacific, becoming a cultural testimony as well as a gastronomic contribution. “Flavors of Resistance” It has been applauded for its narrative, its historical rigor and the vindication of a cuisine that for years was invisible on global stages.
At the end of his speech, Rey Guerrero left a message of expectation for his followers. “What is coming… is coming strong”he assured, anticipating new projects that will continue to elevate Afro-Colombian gastronomy and his family legacy. Their victory reaffirms the importance of telling stories through flavors and continuing to bring the culinary wealth of the Pacific to the world.
You may be interested in:
