Power Couples: Six People to Watch in the Food Scene in 2025

Many of the hot spots around town over the past year were helmed by husband-and-wife teams working together to make Denver a more delicious city. And they've got plenty cooking in the new year, too.

Here are three culinary couples to watch:

Johnny and Kasie Curiel

"Looking back a year ago, we had just gotten Alma opened. We had no idea what was in store for us. It's been a life- and career-changing year," says Kasie Curiel. She and her husband, chef Johnny Curiel, now have three restaurants in the metro area, with a fourth on the way.

After the two settled a lawsuit from My Neighbor Félix that threatened the future of their first venture, Alma Fonda Fina, the upscale Mexican restaurant earned a Michelin star in September, less than a year after its debut in LoHi. The couple added Cozobi Fonda Fina in Boulder in July and Mezcaleria Alma next door to Alma Fonda Fina in November.

In the spring/summer of 2025, they will introduce Alteño in the former Kini's space in Cherry Creek's Clayton Hotel & Members Club. The name is a nod to Altos de Jalisco, a region of Mexico where Johnny moved with his father as a child. Both Kasie and Johnny have worked in Cherry Creek in the past and "wanted to get back to that neighborhood," says Kasie, "but we know it had to be the right place at the right time. ... Our foot is still on the gas pedal, and this opportunity presented itself." So they decided to go for it.

"I feel amazing, because this is actually a natural move," says Johnny, adding that it offers growth opportunities for his staff: The original chef de cuisine from Alma Fonda Fina, Eric Honas, will take the helm at Alteño, while chef Rico Carbajal will move up to chef de cuisine at Alma.

The Curiels credit their strong staff for allowing them to continue to expand. "The people surrounding us that are on our teams, they're the reason we're here," Johnny notes.

The two also depend on each other. While Johnny oversees the culinary side and has a lot of input in aspects like design, Kasie heads up the operational efforts. "I feel grateful we're able to work together; it makes me one of the luckiest chefs in the city," Johnny says. "I get to worry about the thing I love the most — the food, the chefs — because I know a badass is taking care of the rest. How lucky that we get to do that. And I think it's made our marriage even stronger."

"It's the biggest blessing," Kasie adds. "And it's been amazing to watch Johnny grow in his career and get all the accolades."

"When I don't have to worry about 50 percent of the restaurant because I know she's doing an amazing job, then creating for me is the easiest thing," concludes Johnny. "It's easy when your staff is so amazing and your partner is so amazing."

Ni and Anna Nguyen

"When I was washing dishes in the back of a brunch restaurant, I never imagined in a million years that Sắp Sửa would be what it is now," says chef Ni Nguyen, co-owner of one of the buzziest restaurants in the city. He and his wife, chef Anna Nguyen, met in culinary school in California, moved to Anna's home state of Colorado in 2020, and began serving Vietnamese fare from a cart and then a series of pop-ups.

There was a lot of excitement when they opened the brick-and-mortar version of Sắp Sửa on East Colfax in the summer of 2023, and in 2024, it raked in accolades from national publications such as the New York Times, Bon Appétit and Esquire. But bafflingly, it was left out of the new edition of the state's Michelin Guide. Despite the snub, local diners have kept the spot consistently busy. "Our team is absolutely crushing it. ... It's a true testament to what the team does day in and day out," Ni notes.

"Working [with Anna] has been a dream," he adds. "We've always wanted to work together, and now that we do, we've learned so much and grown so much together. Working together has made our marriage stronger, and marriage has made our partnership at work stronger."

While some successful restaurant owners turn quickly to expansion, the Nguyens are taking a different approach. "We want to put all our energy and passion into one space," says Ni. So instead of opening a second spot in 2025, he's working to build Chit Chats, an Instagram-based video series about the culinary industry that he recently launched with his brother and cousin along with Westword contributor Chris Marhevka. "We're hoping things outside the restaurant [like Chit Chats] will open other doors and create other opportunities for our staff" — and for other Denver creatives in the food scene.

Cliff and Cara Blauvelt

"The outpouring of support from the community was pretty humbling," says Cliff Blauvelt, who had to take on an unexpected challenge in 2020: rebranding the restaurant he founded with his wife, Cara Blauvelt, in Sunnyside in 2022.

A copyright lawsuit from an out-of-state restaurant forced the couple to come up with a new name for their popular venture — originally dubbed Bodega — and in June, they introduced Odie B's. "It took a lot of time and energy and extra added stress, but we're hoping this creates a stronger brand identity and eliminates confusion with other 'bodega's in the market," Cliff says.

So far, it's been a success; this month, Odie B's is set to open a second location inside the Novel apartment building in RiNo. Unlike the first spot, it will serve into the evening hours and offer a lineup of grab-and-go options. Also in the works: Boombots Pasta Shop, which is planning a spring/summer opening next door to the original Odie B's. (Look for a sneak-peek pop-up in February.)

Along with opening restaurants together, Cliff and Cara got sober together six years ago and have created a workplace where wellness is a top priority; three-fourths of their staffers are in active recovery. "It's been only positive," Cliff says. "It's created a really cool place for a lot of these people that were trying to get out of the industry or away from the triggers. It also creates a good amount of loyalty. We're honest and open and proud about what we've been through."

Their professional and personal bond has only made the jump to owning their own business more rewarding. "Cara is really smart and can handle anything I throw at her, and I trust her," says Cliff.

"It definitely has its challenges to work with your partner and go home with your partner, but it's almost more rewarding when you see these things come together," Cara concludes.