APUGA opens nominations for Puerto Rico’s first gastronomy awards
The Puerto Rican Academy of Gastronomy (APUGA, in Spanish) has launched the nomination period for the first edition of the National Gastronomy Awards, an initiative designed to honor excellence across the island’s culinary ecosystem.
The call is open until Aug. 20 and welcomes both self-nominations and public submissions.
“These awards mark a turning point for Puerto Rico,” said César Cordero-Krüger, APUGA president. “This is not about determining who is the best, but about publicly recognizing excellence and commitment to our island across all areas of the culinary ecosystem.”
The awards are grounded in the principles of Healthy, Supportive, Sustainable, and Satisfactory Gastronomy — collectively known as the “4S” — and reflect Puerto Rico’s alignment with the Universal Manifesto for Sustainable Gastronomy.
Nominees in 12 categories will be evaluated by an international jury featuring culinary leaders from Spain, Peru, Panama, and other member countries of the Ibero-American Academy of Gastronomy (AIBG).
Winners in the five 4S categories and the Global Award will go on to represent Puerto Rico at the 2025 Ibero-American Gastronomy Awards in Madrid on Nov. 29.
“This awards program is an invitation to celebrate the best of who we are,” said Madelaine Vázquez, APUGA’s executive director. “Each nomination is a statement of our cultural, social, and economic value through gastronomy.”
The official award ceremony will be held Nov. 13 in San Juan.
