Investing In Yourself: A Day in the Life of Chef Daniel Ben-David

It’s 4:05 a.m. The sun is still sleeping under the covers of the horizon. Most people see those same glowing numbers on the alarm clock and roll over, thankful that they have another few hours of rest. But for Chef Daniel Ben-David, 4:05 a.m. is the start of his day.

Around 4:30 a.m., Ben-David returns from a walk with his dog and throws a pre-workout snack together. 45 minutes later, when most people are rolling over again or snoozing their first alarm, Ben-David conquers the gym. By the time 6:30 a.m. arrives, he’s already tying an apron around his waist and preparing for a long day in the kitchen.

Daniel Ben-David has been the executive chef at Hilton Austin for over three years. He was born in Israel, grew up in South Africa, and moved to America when he turned 13. He has lived all over the United States including Michigan, California, and Texas. Both of his parents were heavily involved in the culinary and hospitality industries. Ben-David was raised in his father’s kitchen where he started his career by rolling up his sleeves as a dishwasher. He worked his way up through the ranks of the kitchen and was offered a scholarship to culinary school after completing high school.

Prior to his involvement with Hilton, Ben-David was an executive chef opening restaurants for Bloomin’ Brands Inc. (a parent company that owns restaurants like Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse) in Houston until he found himself in Malibu with TS Restaurants. A few years later, Hilton created a grand first impression for Ben-David at Hotel del Coronado, a Victorian beach hotel on a peninsula five miles south of downtown San Diego. There he worked and opened hotels with Hilton before being transferred to Hilton Austin in 2021.

Hilton Austin is the first hotel to have an F45 Training studio attached to it. By the time Ben-David arrived on the Texas scene again, Hilton Austin was already deep in the negotiation process of adding a training studio to the property. F45 Training is a functional group fitness studio adaptable to all levels of ability. Founded 11 years ago, F45 Training is actively helping people achieve their fitness goals through personal training and group classes in over 2,000 locations. Ben-David became a trainer with F45 in 2022 and assisted with its grand opening at Hilton Austin.

Ben-David describes F45 Training as a supportive community or family and he says, “I think that’s what’s so great about F45, it’s really all about taking care of the people around you.” When his packed schedule allows, Ben-David still helps to teach group classes at the studio.

Conveniently located in the center of downtown, parallel to the convention center, Hilton Austin is perfect for business trips. In fact, most people who come to stay at Hilton Austin are traveling on business. Ben-David says he took this into consideration when he first started as the executive chef. He began by asking himself, “How can I bring a healthy mindset to a community of people who are so used to eating steak and potatoes?”

He observed that many of these “business people” were looking for healthier meal options when traveling. Thus, Ben-David crafted a fresh approach to these traditional Texas foods that can be healthy but are often heavy or covered in barbecue sauce.

Ben-David has a unique approach to creating signature dishes. Perhaps living in so many different places and being immersed in so many diverse cultures has expanded his palate and his ability to connect with locals on a deeper level. He now strives to produce healthy dishes influenced by his surroundings because of his own changed lifestyle.

Before Ben-David was relocated to Malibu, his younger brother was diagnosed with cancer. Ben-David describes his past self as “your everyday chef.” He says, “I was smoking a pack a day, not eating, and working 15-hour days.” But caring for his brother in sickness and taking him to treatments opened his eyes.

“You need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others,” he remarks.

This realization marked a massive shift in Ben-David’s lifestyle. He had always lived a very active life, full of sports and outdoor recreation. But suddenly, he understood the importance of consistency and the role of healthy food in supporting such a life. Ben-David emphasizes this point and says, “A healthy mindset and a healthy lifestyle is investing in yourself. When you’re able to do that, you can be a better person for the people around you.”

You might not be ready to try out Chef Daniel Ben-David’s morning routine tomorrow. But you can start by trying out some of his favorite go-to pre-workout snacks!