To launch our series San Miguel Women: Stories of Purpose, we hosted a small cocktail gathering that brought together a remarkable mix of women shaping life in San Miguel. What unfolded was more than conversation—it was the beginning of new friendships, collaborations, and shared inspiration.

Meet Kajsa Åkerblom Litzen, a Swedish-born chef whose culinary journey has taken her from her grandmother’s kitchen to Paris, Stockholm and ultimately San Miguel. After a lifetime of opening restaurants and cooking around the world, she has found her way back to what she loves most: beautiful ingredients, warm gatherings and creating food that makes people feel at home.

Meet Julieta Aguilar Herrera, founder of Mexican Terroir, whose passion for food, wine and culture has made her an extraordinary interpreter of San Miguel and the surrounding region. From vineyards and mezcal haciendas to local producers and hidden culinary traditions, Julieta helps us discover the stories—and people—behind what we taste.

Meet Gaby Green, a cocinera de corazón who has spent nearly three decades growing alongside San Miguel’s culinary scene—and helping shape it. From traditional fondas and the city’s first food truck to beloved Agua Miel and now her intimate cooking classes, Gaby’s story is one of food, culture, creativity, and the very San Miguel art of reinventing yourself again and again.

Meet Tonya, the woman behind The Empress of Cheese, whose lifelong love of food and cheese has taken her from Canada to Tuscany and ultimately to San Miguel. Today, she calls herself a “cheese storyteller,” connecting people with Mexico’s artisan cheesemakers, local producers, and the stories behind what we eat—all while bringing people together around the table.

Polly Stark Ortega’s story is woven into more than 50 years of San Miguel’s creative history. An artist, printmaker, designer, and longtime educator, she has spent a lifetime creating and inspiring others. Now, alongside her daughters Luna and Sonia, she’s beginning an exciting new chapter with Salon Cacomixtle—a gallery and creative gathering space in the historic Hotel Sautto.