BUTTERMILK RESTAURANT GROUP
Chef Dakota Weiss is the creator of the famed and loved Southern California Poke restaurant Sweetfin. Having opened the first one in 2015 with rave reviews and lines around the block, she and her partners went on to open 15 locations from Los Angeles down to San Diego. After moving to Santa Fe, Dakota quickly realized that the capital city was lacking in diversity of cuisine. Having worked under the famed Bruno Menard for several years, she immersed herself into the delicious world of Japanese and French cuisine.
Richard Becker is a seasoned restaurant operator. Starting his career at Sakura, a Japanese Tepinyaki & Sushi bar in Flagstaff AZ, where his love of Japanese ingredients began. Later on working with Danny Meyer opening up the first Shake Shack in Los Angeles. Richard quickly proved his skills in operations and management and traveled the US as a part of the “Opening Team” for several Shake Shacks. Wanting to start a new challenge he joined the Sweetfin team in 2017. Richard quickly took his store from being one of the lowest profiting stories into the highest profiting store in the company. Not only is he a whiz in operations and finance, he also has a keen palate and is a “man of the people”.
Dakota and Rich started Buttermilk Restaurant Group in March 2022. It began with a few pop ups for Catch Santa Fe Poke to test the waters. Then in September of 2022 they opened up The Notorious P.O.K.E. at the Sawmill Market in Albuquerque, NM. In December of 2022 they officially opened Catch Santa Fe Poke on Marcy Street. Eager to keep the momentum going they opened up Frenchie's Dips & Tots in Sawmill Market June 2023 and soon after that opened up Capital Coal Neighborhood Eatery in December 2023. They are currently working on Kizuna, a Japanese French Brasserie and Smash it Up, Smash Burger's fast casual concept.
Furthering her knowledge in Japanese cuisine, Chef Dakota served as a judge on the new competition show for Roku channel “Morimoto’s Sushi Master” with Chef Morimoto which aired in the Summer of 2023. This fun and delicious moment in life sparked her interest in the beautiful marriage of French and Japanese cuisine, much like her mentor Bruno Menard had done many years ago.
DAKOTA WEISS
A native of Southern California, moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico with her family at age 13. Finding a love for cooking at an early age made New Mexico a treat to discover a whole new palate of new flavors.
After attending culinary school in Scottsdale, Arizona she moved back to Santa Fe to work at the famed Coyote Café. From there she has lived across the country working in some of the finest restaurants. Having had her spotlight on television shows such as Top Chef, Star Plates, Food Fetish: helped launch her into her first Poke concept named Sweetfin. Sweetfin opened in Santa Monica, CA in April 2015 with rave reviews and lines out the door. Within a 7 year span she went on to open 15 Sweetfin’s in total.
Wanting to branch out on her own, Dakota moved back to Santa Fe in May 2021 and became the Executive chef of Coyote Café. Knowing what a success Poke was in California, she knew that she wanted to introduce this cuisine to New Mexico. Dakota, along with her partner Rich now own and operate Catch Poke, The Notorious POKE, Frenchie’s Dips and Tots, Capital Coal Neighborhood Eatery & Dakota’s Pop Parlor.
RICHARD BECKER
Son of a West Point graduate, Rich was your typical “army brat”. Living in many regions of the USA, he grew a love of all types of cuisines. After attending college in San Diego, he started his restaurant career in Flagstaff, AZ. From there he moved to Los Angeles where he worked for the famed Hillstone Restaurant Group. Considered to have the best Front of the House-training program in the country, he learned the importance of “attention to detail”. He then moved on to Shake Shack where he worked for the famed restaurateur Danny Meyer.
Opening the first 3 stores in California (including a record grand opening in sales) he learned the art of hospitality. Most importantly, hospitality is all about hiring the right people. Rich then left Shake Shack to work for up-and-coming Poke fast casual concept Sweetfin. Rich, being a very health-conscious eater and going Keto for several years, truly found a love for Poke cuisine as it fit into his lifestyle. Rich moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico along with his partner Dakota Weiss. They both knew there was a lack of healthy eating choices in the area. Rich got to work on creating Catch Santa Fe Poke Co., so he could not only continue to eat fresh Poke but also to introduce this great cuisine to New Mexico.
A native of El Salvador, she moved to Santa Fe, NM with her family at 23 for a better professional future and increased quality of life for herself and her children. After graduating from the Voila El Salvador Culinary School, she dedicated herself to teaching different groups of students of all ages in a variety of national competitions in which she earned herself numerous trophies and recognitions.
Upon moving to Santa Fe, she joined the Counter Culture Café, thus began her passion of working in kitchens. Lissette has a broad skill set that includes making desserts, breads, sauce work and working all stations on the line. She followed her craft to the reopening of Santacafé where she would become Sous Chef and also start working at the sister restaurant the famed Coyote Café. This is where she met and worked for Dakota Weiss. They immediately hit it off, Dakota could see the passion and the drive in Lissette. Upon the creation of Buttermilk Restaurant Group, bringing Lissette on as Executive Sous Chef was a key move for our success.
LISSETTE VIDES