Alma Fonda Fina
Denver, USA
⭐1 Star
The Experience
From Michelin Guide
Chef Johnny Curiel started off in his family’s restaurant in Guadalajara, and after years of high-end culinary experience, he revisits dishes and flavors from his upbringing with creativity and finely honed technique delivering results that are both satisfying and delicious. Resist the temptation to fixate on any one item, as the menu is littered with treasures: perfectly crisped pork belly carnitas make for a brilliant taco on a sourdough flour tortilla, while agave-roasted sweet potato with nutty salsa matcha and luxuriously creamy whipped requesón is a revelation, and vibrant seafood crudos like thinly sliced Maine diver scallop with tomatillo and apple aguachile are downright electric. No desserts are offered for the time being, so there’s no reason to leave any extra room.
Unique Things
From Visitor Experiences
Here are three unique and unconventional aspects of Alma Fonda Fina, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Denver:
1. Culinary Journey Rooted in Authentic Mexican Heritage
Chef Johnny Curiel’s approach is deeply personal and authentic, drawing from his upbringing in Guadalajara, Mexico, and his extensive culinary immersion across Mexico. He learned traditional techniques from street food stands, bustling restaurants, and abuelas’ home kitchens, which he now channels into a contemporary Mexican dining experience that honors his cultural pride and family heritage.
2. Rare and Innovative Mexican Dishes Uncommon in Denver
Alma Fonda Fina offers dishes that are uncommon in the Denver food scene, moving beyond typical green-chile Mexican fare. Examples include agave-roasted sweet potatoes served with fennel-tinged whipped requesón and salsa macha, and queso fundido de huitlacoche with Chihuahua cheese and tomatillo-serrano salsa. These dishes showcase complex, nuanced flavors and ingredients rarely found in local Mexican restaurants.
3. Intimate and Thoughtfully Designed Dining Space with Historic Elements
The restaurant seats only 28 guests in an intimate dining room accented by reclaimed wood sourced from Denver’s oldest building. The space is designed to feel warm and inviting, with terra-cotta tones and succulents creating a unique ambiance that complements the soulful, modern Mexican cuisine.
These elements combine to create a Michelin-starred restaurant experience that is both culturally rich and distinctively modern.
Ingredient Stars
From Visitor Experiences
The most honored or signature ingredients at Alma Fonda Fina, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Denver, include:
Agave-charred sweet potatoes (Camote Asado): These are tender sweet potatoes roasted with agave and smoke, highlighting their natural sweetness. They are served with broken salsa macha (a chili, seed, and nut oil sauce) and fennel requesón, creating a balance of smoky, sweet, spicy, and creamy textures and flavors. This dish is a standout and highly praised signature item.
Salsa Macha: A nutty, spicy oil-based sauce made from garlic, chiles, seeds, and nuts fried in oil. It adds heat and crunch to dishes like the Camote Asado, enhancing complexity and texture.
East Coast oysters (Ostiones A la Leña): Grilled delicately with salted butter, serrano ponzu, chive oil, and fresh lime, these oysters showcase the restaurant’s skill in elevating fresh seafood with subtle smoky and citrus notes.
Japanese Hamachi (Aguachile De Hierbas Verde): Yellowtail marinated in a bright green herb aguachile with smoked salt and Persian cucumber, offering a fresh, vibrant, and textured raw fish dish.
Wood-fired chicken (Pollo A Las Brasas): Perfectly cooked over wood fire for a smoky flavor, served with roasted potatoes and chicatana mayonnaise (made with traditional Mexican ants), accompanied by bright salsa verde. This dish reflects the restaurant’s commitment to traditional Mexican flavors with creative twists.
Additional notable ingredients include:
Huitlacoche: Used in queso fundido, this corn fungus adds a unique earthy and funky flavor paired with melty Chihuahua cheese and tangy tomatillo-serrano salsa.
Roasted squash: Elevated with a complex blend of spices, showcasing the use of high-quality, locally sourced produce.
These ingredients and preparations reflect Alma Fonda Fina’s ethos of combining traditional Mexican culinary elements with refined techniques and local influences to create memorable, signature dishes.