Affectionately known as "the mother of Peruvian food", she founded the renowned restaurant El Rincón Que No Conoces[1] ("The corner you don´t know"), in a working-class neighbourhood of Lima, receiving acclaim within and outside of the country as one of the chief proponents of traditional coastal criollo cuisine.
[5] Teresa Izquierdo was born in Lince District, Lima Province, Peru, in humble circumstances.
Teresa discovered her own culinary talent at eight years of age when she successfully took charge of the kitchen after her mother fell ill.[7] In 1978 Izquierdo decided to open her own restaurant, named "El Rincon Que No Conoces" (El RQNC), initially launched to sell desserts in the streets of Lince,[8] drawing on her Afro-Peruvian background to produce high-quality traditional dishes.
"[6] As the popularity of the restaurant spread, her loyal clientele included politicians, businessmen, artists and journalists, locals as well as travellers,[7][1] El RQNC went on to become one of the most famous restaurants in Lima, and Teresa Izquierdo became a household name, writing books and building a significant media presence through a regular demand for interviews, including being featured on Rachael Ray's Food Network.
[9] Izquierdo was the recipient of many honours, and shortly before her death was awarded the Orden al Mérito por Servicios Distinguidos (Merit Order for Distinguished Services) in the Gran Oficial ranking.