Bogotá: A Gastronomic Capital, the Dream of Alejandro Escallón from BogotaEats

Tierra Querida: How did BogotaEats come about?

Alejandro Escallón: It all started from a love for food! Back in 2014, when I was in college, I would spend my entire allowance on restaurants. My parents thought it was crazy. I was always looking for new places to try and trying to convince them to come with me. One day, I watched the movie Chef and it became a huge inspiration. I thought it would be great to have a platform where people could go to decide where to eat—somewhere to find honest, relatable opinions. That’s when I decided to start the Instagram account.

TQ: What’s your opinion on Bogotá’s culinary scene?

AE: It’s amazing! Since launching BogotaEats, we’ve witnessed the industry’s incredible growth. There’s been a gastronomic boom happening at an astonishing pace. Restaurants keep raising the bar, and innovation is revolutionizing the scene. At BogotaEats, we always say that Bogotá has everything it takes to become a major culinary powerhouse in Latin America. The key is for us to truly believe it first—and that’s what we work toward every day.

TQ: How did the idea for the festivals come about?

AE: It came from our goal of positioning Bogotá as a gastronomic capital. But to do that, we first needed to build a strong food culture, which is how the festivals were born. Bringing together the best restaurants in Bogotá, showcasing their top dishes in one place, allowed us to democratize access to high-end culinary experiences.

TQ: You also recently launched an awards program. Will you continue in that direction?

AE: Absolutely! It was something no one had done before, and we felt it was missing. After hearing so many incredible stories from the industry, we wanted to pay tribute to the hard work behind running a restaurant. Through these awards, more people can discover and appreciate the incredible talent and dedication that goes into it.

TQ: What’s next for BogotaEats?

AE: So many exciting things! We strongly believe in the culinary potential not only of Bogotá but of Colombia as a whole. Our vision is to put Colombia on the global gastronomic map—to have people from other countries recognize us as a culinary destination.

TQ: Why is Colombia “Tierra Querida” (Beloved Land)?

AE: Because Colombia has the privilege of being a megadiverse country. Our geography allows us to have the best local products and top-quality ingredients. Many chefs have been working for years to give local products, traditional dishes, and ancestral techniques the recognition they deserve. The key is for us to fully embrace our culinary heritage and realize just how extraordinary our cuisine truly is.