Who is Janaína Torres, the best female chef in the world

As the ceremony for the World's 50 Best Restaurants approaches, this year on June 5th at the Wynn Las Vegas (while it is already known that in 2025 it will move to Turin), the countdown begins marked by the announcements of special awards. The first one is for the best female chef, an award that we have often wondered if it is not anachronistic, almost implicitly validating a patriarchal system where gender equality and wage and employment equity are still far away. It is a reflection that we invite you not to lose sight of. Meanwhile, however, William Drew, director of content at The World's 50 Best Restaurants, announces that The World's Best Female Chef 2024 is awarded to Janaína Torres, already awarded as Latin America’s Best Female Chef in 2023.

Photo: Mauro Holanda

Janaína Torres is a central figure in the Brazilian culinary scene: "Her contribution to Brazil's affirmation as a driving force in the global gastronomic industry cannot be underestimated, and her philanthropic projects highlight a constant commitment to her community - said Drew - this award is recognition of her talent and deep commitment to driving positive change." For this reason, her influence extends beyond national borders to have a strong impact on a global scale, even though her commitment is strongly linked to her country and her neighborhood. "I hope to inspire the next generation of female chefs and to continue building a legacy for Brazilian gastronomy, together with my community. For me, this award represents an important platform to give visibility to education through and for food, which I consider essential for a fairer future in my country and in the world," said the chef.

Photo: Mauro Holanda

Who is Janaína Torres, the best chef in the world

A successful entrepreneur, sommelier, cook, but also a samba teacher and activist, Torres is the co-owner and chef of A Casa do Porco, an informal, excellent, and highly acclaimed restaurant, ranked 12th in the 50 Best Restaurant 2023. Democratic fine dining – around 60 euros for the tasting menu - fun, lively, extravagant with that irresistible atmosphere of a popular festival, where everything (from the menu to the furnishings) revolves around pork, proposed in various ways according to the principles of nose to tail; but the real attraction is the extraordinary Porco San Zé, prepared on the huge grills where whole pigs are cooked for hours. And what pigs: those from the farm owned by Sítio Rueda, just outside São Paulo, managed by Jefferson Rueda, ex-husband and business partner. They also own the Porco Real salami brand.

Entrepreneur and activist

Janaína Torres, known as Dona Onca - the jaguar lady by everyone, just look at her tattoos to understand why – has several establishments to her credit. It all started with O Bar da Dona Onça, opened in 2008 in the then degraded center of São Paulo, an informal, pleasant place with a delicious, comforting proposal that with personality declines Brazilian classics where rice, beans, and chicken play the leading roles. A stone's throw from this, A Casa do Porco was born, the Hot Pork hot dog kiosk, the Sorveteria do Centro ice cream parlor, and the gastronomy and sandwich shop Merenda da Cidade, opened in 2023, giving further shape to her commitment to ensuring that everyone has access to proper, healthy, rewarding nutrition. The restaurant, in fact, offers good and nutritious meals within everyone's reach (only 40 reais, about 8 euros).
Janaína Torres is no stranger to such initiatives: together with Jefferson, she mobilized to provide hot meals during the most critical phases of the pandemic while rallying thousands of Brazilian cooks and hospitality workers to pressure the government and obtain vital financial support. Furthermore, she collaborated with the government to train school canteen cooks, thus improving the nutrition of 1.8 million children with fresh and healthy foods instead of processed ingredients, promoting the spread of food education and healthier lifestyles.