Valladolid’s Yucatán Cuisine Wins Global Cookbook Award

Lisbon, Portugal — The traditional cuisine of Yucatán has achieved international acclaim with a historic milestone: the book Valladolid, Capital Gastronómica de Yucatán (Valladolid, Gastronomic Capital of Yucatán) secured first place worldwide in the "Gastronomic Tourism" category at the 2024 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. The ceremony took place from June 18 to 21, 2025, in Portugal, as part of the World Gastronomy Summit.

A Celebration of Yucatán’s Culinary Legacy

The book, a collaborative effort by the Valladolid Restaurant Association (ARVAY A.C.) and published by Larousse, showcases the cultural, historical, and culinary richness of Valladolid, a cornerstone of Yucatán’s eastern region. Competing against entries from Germany, Oman, Portugal, South Africa, and the United States, the publication solidified Mexico—and particularly Yucatán—as a global leader in gastronomic tourism.

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, often referred to as the "Oscars of culinary publishing," were established in 1995 by Édouard Cointreau. The annual event honors the finest gastronomic literature, celebrating global culinary diversity while providing equal opportunities for major publishers and independent projects alike. The awards bring together chefs, authors, editors, and journalists in an international symposium recognizing excellence in cookbooks, beverage guides, and food tourism publications.

A Collaborative Triumph

Photographer Ignacio "Nacho" Urquiza, who led the book’s photography direction, and Verónica Rico, Larousse México’s gastronomy publisher, accepted the award during the ceremony at the Estoril Congress Center in Portugal.

The editorial team included chef and researcher Ricardo Muñoz Zurita as coordinator, with design and editing by Roberto Gutiérrez Durán. The project also benefited from contributions by Valladolid’s city chronicler, Carlos Cosgaya Medina, and writer Ariel Sánchez Gómez, who enriched the narrative with a short story.

Jordy Abraham Martínez, the project’s editorial leader and founder of ARVAY A.C., stated: "This award is a collective victory. It recognizes a city that has turned its cuisine into a bridge to the world and its traditions into a reason to travel. We set out to tell Valladolid’s gastronomic story with dignity, beauty, and truth—and today, the world has listened."

A Two-Year Labor of Passion

The book’s creation spanned two years of dedicated work, with a team committed to documenting, cooking, photographing, and narrating the essence of one of Mexico’s most authentic culinary regions. With this achievement, Valladolid reaffirms its status as a gastronomic gem and solidifies its position as an international tourist destination, where cultural heritage and unique flavors now captivate audiences worldwide.