The Beautiful and Heartfelt Story of KOL Becoming the 17th Best Restaurant in the World | Chef Santiago Lastra
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Show Notes
Santiago Lastra’s story is unlike any other in modern food. Raised in chaos, forged through global kitchens, and shaped by an obsessive drive to master his craft, he built KOL — one of London’s most original, Michelin-starred restaurants — by combining Mexican soul with British ingredients.
In this conversation, Santiago reveals how adversity, identity, discipline and extreme curiosity shaped both him and his restaurant. This episode is about far more than food — it’s about reinvention, resilience, and the psychology behind elite creativity.
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ON THE MENU
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🇲🇽 Growing up in chaos — and turning adversity into fuel
🔥 How obsession, discipline & structure rewired his life
🥘 The philosophy behind KOL: Mexican soul, British ingredients
🌍 Noma Mexico, global travel & finding creative identity
🧠 How environment shapes ambition, confidence & mindset
🎨 Why great creativity requires constraints
🍽️ Building a Michelin-star restaurant from scratch
👥 Leadership, culture & the psychology of a great kitchen
🥃 The emotional story behind Mezcaleria KOL
🔄 Letting go of your past to build the life you want
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