Like most chefs, Dakota started her career on the line at Mark Miller’s Coyote Café. She spread her wings over the next several years working under world-renowned chefs such as Dean Fering and Bruno Menard.
Dakota then arrived in Los Angeles where she was quickly named “Best New Chef” by Angeleno magazine
in 2006 as the Executive Chef at Jer- ne at the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey.In 2011, Dakota appeared on
Bravo’s “Top Chef Texas,” while that same year she joined the W Los Angeles as Executive Chef. In 2013
she opened Dakota’s POP Parlor, her own brand of innovative gourmet popcorn—recognized by Food
Network as one of the “Top 30 Popcorns to Try in America” and CBS Los Angeles as “Best Popcorn in LA.”
Weiss became one of the most commercially successful women-owned restaurateurs in Southern
California as the consulting chef and part owner of Choice’s Sweetfin Poke, a fast-casual concept serving
California-inspired Hawaiian soul food that opened in April of 2015 in Santa Monica. Sweetfin gained both
local and national recognition and had rapid expansion to 15 locations across Southern California, from
2018 to 2021.

After being diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2021, Dakota and her partner Rich decided to move to Santa
Fe, New Mexico to be closer to her family. Dakota took on the role as Executive Chef at the famed Coyote
Café. Noticing the lack of fresh seafood restaurants in Santa Fe, Dakota and Rich created the Buttermilk
Restaurant Group LLC and opened Catch Santa Fe Poke Co in the Summer of 2022. They quickly followed
with the Notorious P.O.K.E (Sawmill Market), Frenchie’s Dips and Tots (Sawmill Market & The Railyard)
and Dakota’s Pop Parlor. Weiss aims to expand their quickly growing Restaurant Group to cities such as
Denver, Co, Flagstaff, AZ and Austin, TX. Missing the diverse food scene from Los Angeles, Dakota and
Rich decided to open Capital Coal Neighborhood Eatery, a Micro Food Hall. Inside you can find Korean,
Hot Chicken and lots more to satisfy any craving.

Dakota is one of three Judges on the new show Morimoto’s Sushi Masters on Roku and is always
immersing herself in learning new Japanese flavors and techniques.
Given Dakota’s passion for Japanese cuisine, Dakota and partner are working on their newest concept call
Kuidaore. This is going be a Japanese Izakaya / Arcade. The focus on Japanese pub food using French
technique in a various ways on this small plate menu concept. Expect to see menu items like Shaved Lotus
Root with Pork Belly Miso Compote or Uni Crispy Rice with a Bouillabaisse Ponzu. She expects Kuidaore
to launch in Spring 2025.

Dakota has been a long-time supporter of the organization No Kid Hungry which works to end childhood
hunger in America and served as Chef Co-Chair for two years at the Taste of the Nation which benefitted
the organization. Dakota continues to be an advocate and a voice for all Cancer survivors and loves to
donate her time and cooking skills to help raise funds and awareness.

On her rare day off, she and her partner love to load their two pups in the car for a hike by the river
followed by a visit to a locally owned (pet-friendly) restaurant or brewery.