How Denver’s Johnny and Kasie Curiel Are Building a Family Through Flavor

"Named for his mother (Alma) — the name meaning “fine eatery” in Spanish — Alma Fonda Fina in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood is a deeply personal fine‑dining project built on memories of family and Guadalajara; it earned a MICHELIN Star in 2024 and retained it in 2025. I see it as proof that Johnny can tell a personal story through fine dining without losing soul, launching a movement that began with a 12‑person opening team and has grown into a company of more than 160 employees across four restaurants with notably high staff retention; when the team won their first Star we celebrated as a family, complete with a mariachi band, mezcal, and even a tattoo artist so everyone could mark the moment together." - Katie Shapiro