Chef Tita wins first-ever Champions of Change Award in Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025

Santo Domingo.- In a milestone for Latin American gastronomy, Inés Páez Nin, known as Chef Tita, has been named the first recipient of the 2025 Champions of Change Award by Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna. The award recognizes leaders transforming the food and hospitality industry through meaningful social impact.

Chef Tita earned the honor for her work with the IMA Foundation, where she supports small farmers and rural communities in the Dominican Republic by promoting local products and sustainable practices. Her mission is to elevate Dominican cuisine while driving social, cultural, and economic development. “This recognition is a tribute to years of dedication and love invested in rescuing and reinventing Dominican cuisine,” she said.

The award was praised by William Drew, content director of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, who emphasized its role in highlighting the power of gastronomy to improve communities. The program will also feature #50BestTalks and 50 Best Signature Sessions, offering collaborative culinary experiences. The official awards ceremony is set for December 2, 2025, in Antigua, Guatemala, marking a celebration of gastronomy as a force for social change in the region.