Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. October 2, 2025. Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, announced Dominican chef Inés Páez Nin, Chef Tita, as the winner of the Champions of Change Award 2025, becoming the first personality in the region to receive this important recognition that distinguishes leaders who promote their cuisine, culture, and roots, generating a social impact in their countries.
Chef Tita, highlighted for being a visionary of Dominican cuisine, is recognized for her work in the preservation and dissemination of Dominican culture; the rescue of Dominican gastronomic heritage and the projection of Dominican flavors and identity to the world and her commitment to using cuisine to generate a social impact in rural communities in the country through her IMA Foundation and the Aguají by Chef Tita restaurant.
This fact marks a milestone in Dominican and Latin American gastronomic history: for the first time, the award is presented in the framework of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, and the pride falls on a Dominican woman, a symbol of Brand Country. A recognition that projects the country on the world map of cuisine, celebrating the transformative role that cuisine can play in society.
The IMA Foundation promotes programs in favor of small farmers, rural communities, and local producers throughout the country, promoting rural development, food security, cultural preservation, nutrition, and food sovereignty. With this, it contributes to empowering rural families and safeguarding culinary techniques that are part of the Dominican national heritage. The foundation’s vision is to serve as a source of inspiration and a model of social work, encouraging future generations to continue developing the field, empowering rural families, and preserving culinary techniques that are part of the Dominican national heritage.
“For me, this recognition is a sincere tribute to the years of dedication and love invested in rescuing and reinventing Dominican cuisine. Our mission has always been to honor our roots, give visibility to our culinary heritage, and ensure that the voices of our farmers, producers, and communities are celebrated far beyond our borders. Dominican cuisine is not just flavor: it is memory, identity, and a living expression of who we are,” expressed Chef Tita after receiving the distinction.
“This year marks a significant milestone, as we present the Champions of Change Award for the first time within the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants program, and we are incredibly proud to honor Chef Tita as a well-deserved winner. We are thrilled to support the development of her admirable work to drive social transformation, empower communities, and preserve Dominican culinary heritage through cuisine,” declared William Drew, content director of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants.
What it means for the Dominican Republic
This award represents national pride and a historic opportunity for the country’s international projection. It elevates the Dominican Republic as a reference in the region by recognizing not only the local culinary richness but also the social commitment of a Dominican woman chef who works transforming communities from the kitchen. A milestone that places the Dominican Republic in the international showcase of cuisine and reconfirms Chef Tita as Brand Country and national pride.
Latin America’s 50 Best and the Champions of Change Award
The Champions of Change Award recognizes key figures in the culinary world who, beyond the kitchen, drive lasting and positive social changes. Previously awarded at The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, it is the first time it is presented in the Latin American edition.
Since 2013, Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants has celebrated the best of regional cuisine, highlighting chefs, restaurants, and initiatives that set trends worldwide.
