Mar Bella Boqueria and Framebridge

Photos Courtesy of Elite Focus Studio

Hello my fellow foodies and welcome back. Over the years, my husband/photographer has taken some pretty amazing pictures of our culinary adventures. I decided it was time to frame some of these beauties and hang them on our walls in the house. We decided to take a trip down to Cherry Creek to spend an afternoon framing at the new Framebridge store in Cherry Creek and then have dinner at Mar Bella Boqueria. They are both next to each other, so it seemed like a great way to spend a beautiful day in Denver. 

While Framebridge has many stores across the United States, this is their first location in Colorado. The store is quaint and inviting, and a fabulous place to go to frame your favorite painting, photos or memorabilia. The artist wall inside is full of all things Denver to inspire you on your frame choice. There is one on one help so you can pick out the perfect match for your art. The process is seamless, and we left knowing our perfect frames to complement our culinary photos were in good hands.

We were hungry, and just two doors down in the Clayton Hotel & Members Club sits Mar Bella Boqueria, Johnny and Kasey Curiel’s lates addition to their growing restaurant portfolio. I am truly a Chef Johnny Curiel superfan, so before I even took one bite of the cuisine at Mar Bella Boqueria, I knew it was going to be excellent.  As a chef, Johnny Curiel just doesn’t ever miss the mark. Mar Bella Boqueria pays homage to Chef Johnny and Kasey Curiel’s first to trip to Europe, and it was Spain. Spanish cooking has a huge influence on the way Mexicans cook, so this was a dream of theirs that finally came true. Unlike their other restaurants which focus heavily the food Chef Johnny grew up with in Guadalajara Mexico, Mar Bella Boqueria is a love letter from the Curiel’s to Spain. We were hungry, so as usual, let’s eat!

I must admit, Mar Bella Boqueria opened a month or so ago, and I patiently waited a bit before dining there.  I wanted to truly get the experience after the opening month. There are 2 ways to dine at Mar Bella Boqueria. You can sit in the main dining room or at the chef’s counter. We dined at the chef’s counter, and it is there that you will be treated to an eight-course journey through the coastal regions of Spain.  It is a lot of food, so come hungry. You will dine on some menu items that are not on the main dining room menu, and the menu will change regularly. This is an excellent way to sample Chef Johnnys vision for Mar Bella Boqueria and take a trip through authentic Spanish food without the plane ticket. We dined on exquisite tapas like freshly sliced Jamón Ibérico, Spanish cheeses, Gambas De Ajillo, and Patatas Bravas. I must call out a dish that made my top ten things I have ever eaten list.  The Croquetas were the star of the show. They were presented as two different delectable bites, one filled with Blue Crab, and topped with Otoro, and the other was filled with Jamón Ibérico and Mornay Sauce. If you are lucky enough to try these, you will be blown away.

The wine and cocktail program is extensive at Mar Bella Boqueria and save room for dessert, trust me. Reservations are highly recommended any day of the week.

It was a great day of framing and foodie fun down in Cherry Creek. I can’t wait to go pick up my framed culinary photos and dine again at Mar Bella Boqueria again. Until next time my fellow foodies, eat well, drink well, and be well.