SUMAQ Peruvian Food Festival 2026 honors Peruvian chef Magaly Ponce as Chef of the Year, an award that celebrates a career of more than 25 years dedicated to culinary excellence, hospitality and the promotion of Peruvian gastronomy in the United States.
Based in New York City, Ponce has become one of the main ambassadors of Peruvian cuisine, bringing the richness of its flavors to international stages while inspiring new generations of chefs to preserve their roots.
For the chef, this recognition transcends the professional field and represents a tribute to her life story.
«Being recognized as Chef of the Year has a deeply emotional and spiritual meaning for me. As a Peruvian immigrant in the United States, this recognition represents years of sacrifice, resilience, discipline, and infinite love for my culture. Above all, it represents honoring my roots and the women who taught me to cook from the heart, especially my grandmother, ‘La Donja’, who took care of me during my childhood while my parents worked and transmitted to me the seasoning and love for cooking that lives today in each of my recipes,” Ponce explained.
From a very young age she understood that Peruvian cuisine is much more than food.
«I learned that Peruvian food not only feeds the body, but also the soul and memory. Every dish I prepare carries a part of my childhood, my ancestors and my country. My greatest wish is that every person who tries my food can feel Peru sitting at their table.
Graduated in Culinary Arts and Hotel Administration from the San Ignacio de Loyola University, Magaly has developed a successful career in luxury catering, gastronomic consulting, hospitality and culinary education.
He has collaborated with renowned international institutions and brands, in addition to receiving an official citation in 2025 from the then mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, for his contribution to hospitality and the dissemination of Peruvian culture.
When asked which dish best represents the identity of Peruvian gastronomy, Magaly answers without hesitation: Causa Limeña.
«The cause represents much more than a recipe. It is history, identity and national pride. Through it we can teach the diversity of potatoes that exist in Peru, honor our yellow chili and recognize the work of our farmers. I even use it as an educational tool in schools in the United States to teach culture and history through gastronomy.
For chef Magaly Ponce, Peruvian cuisine has always been a bridge between generations. «Each dish has a story to tell. The word ’cause’ is born from solidarity and union. That is precisely what makes our gastronomy special,” said Chef Magaly.
She is an ambassador of Peru from the kitchen; Magaly believes that Peruvian chefs who live outside the country have a mission that goes far beyond cooking.
«Peruvian chefs abroad are living ambassadors of Peru. We don’t just cook; we educate, connect and preserve our cultural identity. “We are the voice of our producers, farmers and exporters, because we transform their products into experiences that bring our culture closer to the world.”
Likewise, he emphasizes the importance of keeping traditional recipes alive, even far from their homeland.
«We should never allow dishes like Carapulcra, Cuy Chactado, Ranfañote, Suspiro a la Limeña or a good Ceviche to be lost. Cooking in the United States has never meant changing my essence to fit in; On the contrary, it has meant proudly defending the richness of our culture and sharing it with the world.
Beyond her professional achievements, Magaly Ponce is a cancer survivor, an experience that transformed her life and strengthened her purpose to serve, educate and inspire others through gastronomy.
Today, as a businesswoman, educator, speaker and mentor, she continues to demonstrate that cooking can be a powerful vehicle to preserve the identity of a people, build bridges between cultures and transform lives.
With recognition as Chef of the Year at SUMAQ Peruvian Food Festival 2026, Magaly Ponce not only celebrates a career of excellence, but also the legacy of a woman who has made each dish a love letter to Peru.
The “SUMAQ Peruvian Food Festival” will take place on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9, at Suffolk County Community College located at 1 Campus Road, Brentwood, New York 11717, from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm both days.
For more details about “SUMAQ Peruvian Food Festival” visit the website Sumaqpff.com .
