Diana Dávila
Keynote Speaker: Chef & Restaurateur Specializing in Mexican Cuisine; Owner of Mi Tocaya Antojería; Two-Time James Beard Award Finalist
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Diana Dávila Biography
Diana Dávila is a chef and restaurateur known for her contributions to Mexican cuisine in Chicago. Raised in a family of restaurateurs, Dávila began working in her parents' taqueria at age 10 and later started her professional career at the family’s upscale dining concept, Hacienda Jalapeños. She received critical attention from the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times for her work there. Dávila further developed her culinary skills under Chef Susana Trilling at the Seasons of the Heart culinary school in Oaxaca, Mexico, where she learned traditional techniques, including chocolate making from Zapotec women.
After her time in Oaxaca, Dávila worked in several Chicago restaurants, including Butter, which was named one of the Best New Restaurants by Esquire Magazine, and Boka, a Michelin-starred establishment. She also spent four years in Washington, D.C., working for restaurateur Jackie Greenbaum and earning recognition from Washingtonian and Washington Life. Dávila returned to Chicago to work at Cantina 1910 before opening her own restaurant, Mi Tocaya Antojería, in Logan Square.
Mi Tocaya Antojería features a menu inspired by Dávila’s travels and family experiences throughout Mexico, offering small, medium, and large plates that highlight both familiar Mexican dishes and lesser-known regional specialties. Her approach emphasizes regional diversity, Indigenous ingredients, and vegetable-forward cooking, challenging common perceptions of Mexican food. The restaurant’s name, Mi Tocaya, reflects Dávila’s personal connection to her heritage and her commitment to challenging gender stereotypes in the culinary industry. Dávila was featured in the cookbook "Today's Special: 20 Leading Chefs Choose 100 Emerging Chefs," with Marcus Samuelsson highlighting her fearless approach to flavor.
Dávila is a two-time James Beard Award finalist and five-time semifinalist, with recognition in categories such as Best Chef: Great Lakes, Outstanding Chef, and Best New Restaurant. She has been named a Food & Wine Best New Chef, and Mi Tocaya Antojería has received honors from Bon Appétit, the Chicago Michelin Guide, The New York Times, and Eater. Dávila also appeared as a contestant on the cooking competition show "America's Culinary Cup."
In addition to her culinary work, Dávila is active in community advocacy. She co-founded Todos Ponen, a grassroots initiative that brings together chefs, artists, and hospitality partners to provide financial relief and grocery support to undocumented workers and families. Todos Ponen has grown into an ongoing platform for cultural celebration and economic solidarity, organizing fundraisers and serving free meals to immigrants in Chicago. Dávila’s work, both in the kitchen and the community, centers on elevating Mexican cuisine and supporting the broader hospitality industry.
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Diana Dávila Videos
How do I book Diana Dávila to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Diana Dávila for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Diana Dávila, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Diana Dávila or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Diana Dávila for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Diana Dávila, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Diana Dávila, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Diana Dávila speak about?
Diana Dávila is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Celebrity Chef, Hospitality, Hispanic Heritage, Non-Fiction Authors, Diversity & Inclusion and Influential Women.
Where does Diana Dávila travel from?
Diana Dávila generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Diana Dávila?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Diana Dávila for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Diana Dávila for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Diana Dávila or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Diana Dávila is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Celebrity Chef, Hospitality and Hispanic Heritage. The estimated speaking fee range to book Diana Dávila for live events is Below $10,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Diana Dávila generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Pati Jinich, Marcela Valladolid and Stephanie Izard. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Diana Dávila for an upcoming event.
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Diana Dávila Videos
NEWS
Diana Dávila News
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Craving: Mexican food - Chicago Tribune
The first time I had Diana Davila's food, she was the chef at an Oak Forest restaurant (owned by her parents) with the uninspiring name Hacienda Jalapenos. Her cooking was polished and sophisticated — indeed, a bit more sophisticated than the market would bear back then — but "cooking down" to... 15 Mexican beers ...
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Al pastor tacos and 'peanut butter and lengua' star on Mi Tocaya's ...
We look at the modern Mexican comfort food that made the menu at Mi Tocaya Antojeria, the new restaurant from former Cantina 1910 chef Diana Davila.
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Mi Tocaya's Diana Dávila shares how to host a fun, worthwhile ...
Chicago's rising chef-owner tells us her best tips and ideas for having a enjoyable holiday party that's worth the effort.
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Mi Tocaya review: Diana Davila makes triumphant return with crave ...
An antojeria is a small-plate cafe serving antojitos, or "little cravings," and cravings are what chef Diana Davila's cooking at Mi Tocaya is all about.
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Diana Davila is ready to return with Mi Tocaya Antojeria on ...
Chef Diana Davila modeled her new restaurant Mi Tocaya Antojeria after lively, casual antojerias in Mexico and promises "dishes that you are always going to crave." (Andrea Bauer). Nick KindelspergerContact ReporterChicago Tribune. Diana Davila's dream of opening her own restaurant is nearly here, as Mi Tocaya ...
FAQS
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How do I book Diana Dávila to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Diana Dávila for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Diana Dávila, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Diana Dávila or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Diana Dávila for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Diana Dávila, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is Below $10,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Diana Dávila, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Diana Dávila speak about?
Diana Dávila is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Celebrity Chef, Hospitality, Hispanic Heritage, Non-Fiction Authors, Diversity & Inclusion and Influential Women. -
Where does Diana Dávila travel from?
Diana Dávila generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Diana Dávila?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Diana Dávila for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.855.383.8805, and one of our agents will assist you to book Diana Dávila for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Diana Dávila or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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