Teresa Izquierdo facts for kids

Teresa Izquierdo (born March 10, 1934 – died July 27, 2011) was a very famous Peruvian cook. Many people called her "the mother of Peruvian food." She started a well-known restaurant called El Rincón Que No Conoces, which means "The corner you don't know." This restaurant was in a working-class neighborhood in Lima, Peru.

Teresa was praised both in Peru and other countries. She was known for making traditional Peruvian criollo food from the coast. Even though she was famous, she always said she was just a cook, not a chef. There's even a cooking contest for soup-kitchen chefs named after her!

About Teresa Izquierdo

Teresa Izquierdo was born in Lince District, Lima Province, Peru. Her family did not have much money. Her father was from Rímac District and her mother was from Cañete Province.

Teresa had African heritage. Her mother was a great cook who worked for rich families in Lima. Teresa learned to cook at a very young age. She learned old family recipes from her mother, who had learned them from her own grandmother.

Teresa found her own cooking talent when she was only eight years old. Her mother became sick, and Teresa took over the kitchen. She did a great job!

Starting a Famous Restaurant

In 1978, Teresa Izquierdo decided to open her own restaurant. She named it "El Rincón Que No Conoces" (El RQNC). At first, she just sold desserts on the streets of Lince. She used her Afro-Peruvian background to create high-quality traditional dishes.

On April 28, 1978, Teresa opened a small place on Av. Petit Thouars. She only had about S/. 300 (Peruvian money) to start. She stayed there for 20 years. Then, she moved her restaurant a few blocks away to Bernardo Alcedo, also in Lince.

As her restaurant became more popular, many important people came to eat there. These included politicians, business people, artists, and journalists. People from Lima and travelers from other places loved her food. El RQNC became one of the most famous restaurants in Lima.

Teresa Izquierdo became a household name in Peru. She wrote books and was often asked for interviews. She even appeared on Rachael Ray's Food Network TV show.

Teresa Izquierdo passed away in Lima in July 2011. She was 77 years old.

Awards and Her Legacy

Teresa Izquierdo received many awards for her cooking. Shortly before she died, she was given a very special award. It was called the Orden al Mérito por Servicios Distinguidos (Merit Order for Distinguished Services). She received it at a high level, called Gran Oficial.

Today, her famous restaurant, El Rincón Que No Conoces, is run by her daughter, Elena Santos Izquierdo.

See also

In Spanish: Teresa Izquierdo para niños