Juan Manuel Barrientos is a Colombian chef, businessman and peace advocate with more than 13 restaurants, bars and hotels. Creator and founder of the El cielo restaurants, his landmark El cielo Restaurant located in Washington D.C. was the first Colombian restaurant in history to be awarded a Michelin Star, the highest recognition achieved in Colombian gastronomy. Chef Barrientos is also well known for his philanthropic work, having founded El cielo Foundation in 2008 to provide culinary training to ex-guerrilla members, soldiers wounded in combat, indigenous people and victims of violence.
