Daniela Soto-Innes Runs a Restaurant Empire—And Still Makes Time to Meditate
This spring Daniela Soto-Innes became the youngest woman to be named the World’s Best Female Chef. Since she’s just 28, the win was monumental. But it was also a little beside the point. Soto-Innes isn’t just “good—for a girl.” The award was the latest in an avalanche of accolades she has received in her career. Soto-Innes runs the kitchens in both Cosme and Atla, two of the best modern Mexican restaurants in New York, both from chef Enrique Olvera. And in 2016 she won the coveted James Beard Award for rising star chef. So while she’s flattered, she doesn’t plan to plateau now. “Of course I’m super happy about it, because now more people know about what we’re doing,” she tells Glamour. “But it’s something to take slow, and the most important thing for me is not to believe it.”
Though the Mexican-American chef is often singled out for her contributions to the food world, it was the team vibe of a kitchen that first drew her to the field. “My father was a basketball player, so he always had us do different sports, and because of that, I seek a team,” she says. “And I think that’s why Enrique and I got along. I’m not there to be ‘the next amazing chef.’ I need people around me who are good, and there to do something amazing together.” Soto-Innes first met Olvera through friends. Soon it became clear to both of them that they were something close to kindred spirits. When she was just 24, he tapped her to run his Obama-approved Cosme restaurant. At 26 the wunderkind helped Olvera open up Atla, now as his business partner.
Restaurants are not known for their work-life balance. It’s a slog to get through dinner service, and cooks spend hours perfecting new recipes. But Soto-Innes seems to have it all figured out. She meditates each morning before going on a run or taking a yoga class. She gets enough hours of sleep at night and survives on a diet of juices and raw fish. Right now she’s made a particular habit of afternoon turmeric shots. Of her self-care practice, she insists, “You have to take good care of yourself to be good for others. So I’ve always been this way.”
But Soto-Innes is about to put her zen to the test. Soon she and Olvera will open two new restaurants in Los Angeles: Damian and Ditroit. Damian will have Japanese and Korean influences, with a touch of traditional Mexican flair. Ditroit will be a taqueria adjacent to Damian serving two or three taco variations per day. “I’m seeking the sun,” says Soto-Innes of soon becoming bicoastal. “It’s exciting but also scary. How are people going to react? The scary part is always making sure that people understand your vision and accept it.”
But with the impact Soto-Innes has already had on the restaurant world—as Bon Appetit put it, “Daniela Soto-Innes is shaping the future of Mexican food in America”—it’s safe to say people don’t just accept her vision, but savor it. “I want my work to be part of the next generation’s interpretation of Mexican and American culture, told through the language of food,” she says.
This year has made one thing clear: Women are showing up, stepping up, and taking what they deserve. From politics to pop culture, women aren’t just leveling the playing field—they’re owning it. As we ramp up to our annual Women of the Year summit, we will be highlighting women across industries who do the work every day. Whether it’s the CEO of a multinational retail corporation, a James Beard Award–winning chef, or the World Cup champions, here are the women you need to know right now. So far, Glamour has celebrated women in sports, beauty, and style. Up now: 12 women who have made the food world more equitable, more ambitious, and so much more delicious. From an MIT-trained flavor scientist to a chef who’s created a new canon in Southern cuisine, these women have expanded our minds and our palates. Mmm. Dig in.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
