Delven Adams, a Guyanese re-migrant and longtime owner of the Backyard Café in Georgetown, was recently presented with a plaque from Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, in recognition of his restaurant being named by travel journalists as one of Time Magazine’s 2026 greatest 100 places on the planet to visit.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Guyana Tourism Authority, and the Government of Guyana, we would like to present you with this plaque in recognition of Chef Delven Adams and the Backyard Café being listed as one of Time’s 100 greatest places to visit in 2026,” said Rodrigues.
“It’s an honor, congratulations. You’ve done yourself proud, and you have done your country proud. We would like to acknowledge your love for the culinary arts, your passion, your skills, your talent, and your patriotism. Congratulations,” reiterated Minister Rodrigues.
“Thank you so much. I appreciate this. I am humbled. Thank you, everyone. President Ali also recognized us. I appreciate all Guyanese, and my team,” said Chef Adams, adding, “thank you, Guyana.”
“It’s a lot of hard work. I want to thank my team, my parents, and my brothers and sisters who are always behind me. Thank you all.”
“Thanks to Time for the recognition, and the Guyanese people for their support,” said the award-winning chef.
Adams is referred to as a Master Chef, and for good reason. He was televised cooking traditional Guyanese food in Rewa, a small Amerindian village in Guyana, for the second season of Uncharted on National Geographic in 2020.
He debuted his unique traditional cuisine on the second season of the National Geographic TV series Uncharted, hosted by British-born chef Gordon Ramsay, where the two chefs entertained audiences while cooking Guyana’s national dish, Pepper-pot.
With so much world-renowned notoriety, it was no wonder Time Magazine recognized Adams’ skills and ability and visited the Backyard three consecutive years. As such, the world-renowned magazine found it fitting to honor the Guyanese champion of food. Adams thanked Minister Rodrigues for the prestigious honor.
Adams, who landed his very first feature in Caribbean Life when he launched his eatery in 2016, pointed out in a video interview that Olivia Liveng was the journalist who got him into Time Magazine.
“It was your cooking that got you into Time’s 2026 list, as one of 100 places to visit. It’s so well deserved,” said Liveng.
“The fact that you could capture the essence of Guyanese cooking and culinary arts for an extremely established journalist really is kudos to you,” she said to Chef Adams.
“This is the third time we’re working together,” Adams said to Liveng, adding, “out of all the places on the planet, and to be in the top 100, is this restaurant in Guyana, this is a huge achievement. Thank you.”
“I am still celebrating Time Magazine’s ‘world’s greatest place’ 2026. Olivia Liveng is one of the journalists who helped with the article for Time Magazine. We’ve known each other for a long time, and I appreciate her work as a travel reporter,” said Adams.
The culinary genius, whose farm to plate concept continues to attract international travelers from as far away as China, England, the United States, among other countries, is not only passionate about creating delicious dishes to satisfy every palate, he also engages his customers in delightful storytelling about his cooking via organized vegetable market tours and talks on the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables, a privilege many countries he says, do not have.
The Backyard Café, which is literally in Adams’ childhood backyard, has a steady flow of patrons. The reservation list is at times fully booked, a clear indication that Chef Adams’ cuisine is appetizing, and chowed down in a rustic, friendly, warm environment.
In addition to weddings, the Backyard Café’s Chef Adams and his team of sous chefs have laid out the table with delicious fare for airline crews, Exxon Mobile executives, government ministers, diplomats, foodie influencers, and bloggers from around the world, who have highlighted the eatery’s exquisite menu.
The Backyard Café also continues to host milestone celebrations, weddings, anniversaries, and nationals, which Adams said continue to support the unique restaurant.
Reservations are strongly advised to secure garden-fresh produce and the fresh catch of the day.
For reservations and more information, log on to www.BackyardCafé.com.
Here is an excerpt from a Time Magazine 2026 article by Mark Johanson.
The oil-rich South American nation of Guyana is the world’s fastest-growing economy, and its capital, Georgetown, has transformed from a sluggish village into a construction-filled boomtown. Business travelers have poured into the city, aided by new flights from hubs like Houston and Toronto. Where do they eat? At an unmarked restaurant located in the working-class West Ruimveldt neighborhood.
The humble Backyard Café is a speakeasy-style spot tucked — true to its name — into the backyard of Chef Delven Adams’ childhood home. Meals are reservation-only, and Adams asks diners for their protein preferences in advance. From there, he crafts seasonal, market-to-table menus that reflect Guyana’s rich multi-ethnic heritage: most Guyanese trace their roots to Africa or India, a legacy of British colonialism. Layer in the influence of Indigenous Amerindian communities, and you get dishes like pepperpot chicken jerked with cassareep (a cassava root extract), wiri-wiri peppers, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves — an improbable and heavenly combination that could only exist here.
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