Malena Martí nez studied medicine at Universidad San Martí n de Porres, and upon completing her studies she did rural service at the Naval Clinic in Iquitos, in the Amazon region of Loreto. She then studied Nutrition and Food Industries at University of San Francisco and at Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina. In 2015, with her brother, the chef Virgilio Martí nez, she created Mater, an interdisciplinary research and interpretation center that records and disseminates the megadiversity of Peru and links gastronomy with science, the arts, human sciences and local crafts. Pia Leon graduated from Cordon Bleu Lima. She began her career at Central Restaurant more than 15 years ago, recognized multiple times as the Best Restaurant in Latin America and currently number one according to The World's 50 Best Restaurants. In 2018, while co-directing the kitchen at Central, she opened MIL - with her husband, Virgilio Martí nez-, and created Kjolle, a restaurant she personally directs . That same year she was awarded Best Female Chef in Latin America and in 2021, Best Female Chef in the World.