PERU: Co-workers and colleagues from Peru's culinary world mourn the loss of an Australian chef and his Peruvian girlfriend who were killed in traffic accident in Peru

Record ID: 211357

  • Title: PERU: Co-workers and colleagues from Peru's culinary world mourn the loss of an Australian chef and his Peruvian girlfriend who were killed in traffic accident in Peru
  • Date: 4th December 2012
  • Summary: LIMA, PERU (DECEMBER 03, 2012) (REUTERS) MAN CARRYING FLORAL OFFERING AT THE WAKE OF AUSTRALIAN CHEF, JASON NANKA AND HIS RESTAURANTEUR GIRLFRIEND, LORENA VALDIVIA, BOTH KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF THE DECEASED LEAVING OFFERINGS AT THE WAKE A WORKER ARRIVING WITH A FLORAL OFFERING FRIENDS ARRIVING TO THE WAKE FRIENDS AND FAMILY OUTSIDE THE WAKE EXTERIOR OF THE WAKE WAKE WITH BOTH COFFINS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FRIEND OF THE VICTIMS AND CHEF, HAJIME KASUGA, SAYING: "Losing them is a big blow to Peruvian gastronomy. But they remain as examples for all of us. We must remember them always as good friends, good colleagues and excellent cooks." FAMILY MEMBERS OF VICTIMS AT THE WAKE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CAR ACCIDENT VICTIM LORENA VALDIVIA'S UNCLE, JUAN CARLOS KUKURELO, SAYING: "If you've seen the pictures, [you've seen that] Lorena had an angelic smile and Jason complemented her. They died doing what they love, gastronomy and going deep into Peru. That's what they wanted, they loved it and they died for it." PERUVIAN CHEF, GASTON ACURIO, LEAVING THE WAKE ACURIO GETTING INTO HIS CAR
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Peru
  • Country: Peru
  • Topics: Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA6DBZUSZGLBXCHQ0MIUL26SDSE
  • Story Text: Family members, co-workers, employees, and friends from Peru's culinary world on Monday (December 3) mourned the deaths of Australian chef Jason Nanka and his Peruvian chef and restauranteur girlfriend, Lorena Valdivia, who died in a traffic accident in southern Peru.
    The young couple ran a Lima establishment, Nanka, which bills itself on the company website as a "green space" that promotes, "sustainable" cooking.
    Family members and friends of the two victims held a wake that was attended by restaurant employees as well as others involved in Lima's celebrated culinary world.

    "Losing them is a big blow to Peruvian gastronomy. But they remain as examples for all of us. We must remember them always as good friends, good colleagues and excellent cooks," said Peruvian chef, Hajime Kasuga.
    The couple and business partners opened Nanka together at the end of 2011.
    They traveled across Peru to find new flavours and inspiration to continually expand the menu offered at the immediately successful establishment.

    "If you've seen the pictures, [you've seen that] Lorena had an angelic smile and Jason complemented her. They died doing what they love, gastronomy and going deep into Peru. That's what they wanted, they loved it and they died for it," Valdivia's uncle, Juan Carlos Kukurelo, said.
    The couple died along with two friends, chef Ivan Kisic and producer Maria Huamani, when they collided head-on with a truck which local reports said had lost control in southern Peru near the city of Ayacucho on Friday (November 30).
    Valdivia met Nanka in his native Gold Coast while studying in Australia in 2006.
    They were soon living together and before long moved to Valdivia's homeland where they shared their love for food and Peruvian culture.
    They had a promising future and were featured on the television show, "Culinary Adventures," hosted by noted Peruvian chef, Gaston Acurio.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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