Peru claimed victory in the "World Cup of Breakfasts," a viral online contest organized by Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, with its signature pan con chicharrón.
The winning dish, a classic Peruvian Sunday street breakfast, consists of fried pork, sweet potato, onion salsa and French bread. Photo by Artem Podrez/Pexels UPI
Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Peru claimed victory in the "World Cup of Breakfasts," a viral online contest organized by Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos, with its signature pan con chicharrón narrowly defeating Venezuela's reina pepiada arepa.
The final vote, cast by fans across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts, gave Peru roughly 12.8 million likes to Venezuela's 12.6 million, according to Infobae. Sixteen countries competed in the tournament, including the United States, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador and Japan.
The winning dish, a classic Peruvian Sunday street breakfast, consists of fried pork, sweet potato, onion salsa and French bread. Llanos, one of the world's most influential streamers, promised to travel to Lima to hand-deliver a "golden frying pan" trophy.
The result triggered a wave of celebration across Peru. President Dina Boluarte congratulated the nation, while the Ministry of Transport and Communications declared on social media that Peru had "the best breakfast in the world." Other government agencies and politicians also joined in.
The contest follows a pattern of Ibai's viral events, such as his record-breaking "La Velada del Año" boxing streams, blending entertainment, national pride and massive online participation.
For many Peruvians, the pan con chicharrón's win was more than a viral moment. It was a symbol of culinary identity and pride, sparking memes, street celebrations and a global conversation on traditional foods in the digital age.