Day of the Dead Flower Fields

One of the most moving experiences living in Mexico is my trip to the flower fields near Comonfort with my friend Billy Mervin, one of the best restauranteurs in SMA and a partner/owner of La Dona Restaurant SMA at San Francisco 32. He’s one of the first people I met when I moved to SMA. Yesterday marked the 5th year in a row we took the trip together and one of the best perks of the journey is that we talk food non-stop all the way. Billy started buying flowers from Huerta Ave de Paraiso in 2013 when he owned the Sunset Bar; the year I moved to SMA.

Billy claimed the tallest row of marigolds to decorate the Nena hotel, which will be decked out in its holiday glory this weekend along with Chef Juan Manuel Galvan Lopez, who has created a special menu where everything can be ordered a la carte. I gathered flowers this year for my beloved nephew, Kevin and my close friends Billielee Mommer, Rick Thompson, and Cristina Potters of Mexico Cooks; all who passed away this year. The adventure of it all (with a long, backroad detour) our annual visit to Judith, the discovery of new places to eat in SMA and CDMX and loads of laughter, made this the perfect, Dia de Los Muertos kind of day.

Gracias Billy… same time next year! Huerta Ave de Paraiso is on the road from Comonfort to Empalme Escobedo. Phone 52 412 120 8038

With Chef Arturo Sandoval at the helm, Atrio is about to write a new chapter on what fine dining looks like and this installment will forever change the culinary landscape here in SMA.

The food at Atrio is not just good, it’s Michelin star good. Atrio was our pick for the best chef and restaurant opening in 2017 and still reigns supreme 8 years later.

For the past three months, Atrio has been planning a signature table to showcase Chef Arturo Sandoval’s interpretation of world food; the Mesa Epicure. The table will open at 7:00 PM, Friday, October 17th, for its first dinner with a menu that’s seasonal; only the finest ingredients can be found in Chef Arturo Sandoval’s kitchen.

Atrio’s owners, José María Calvo (Chema) and Jesús Manuel Calvo (Chus), have been giving the gift of good food to SMA diners for over 3 decades and are determined to leave the best customer experiences in their wake. 30 years ago, they opened Pueblo Viejo. For the past 18 years, La Azotea has played a major role, claiming SMA’s signature taco, the Jicama taco, that’s not about to be knocked off its throne anytime soon. Celebrating their 8th anniversary next month, Atrio has proved to be the jewel in the crown that we all know and love.

During the past 8 years, I remember every trip to Atrio; always a celebration of the magic I feel living in the best small city in the world. As a food writer, I’ve followed Atrio’s rise; climbing stairs that were still under construction in 2017, just to get a glimpse of what would be the best restaurant in SMA 8 years later. I’ll never forget when I reached the top and saw the Parroquia for the first time from there. I still see it that way today.

The person to take on a tasting adventure at Atrio is Chef Michael Coon.He’s traveled to over 40 countries as the former Travel Director and Co-Creator of the Culinary Institute of America’s World of Flavor tours. I first met him in 2013 when he was cooking global menus and holding private dinners before most of the best restaurants in SMA even opened; he was a one man show. He calls Chef Arturo Sandoval the “real deal”.

Our menu…

-PANI PURI (filled with tomato and burrata tartar with olive soil and anchovies)

-ARTICHOKE BURGER, brioche bread, teriyaki, and foie gras

-FOIE GRILL TOAST, foie gras, onion and grape jam

-COD SALAD, pickled cod, mizuna, avocado, and parmesan cheese with sesame vinaigrette

-Madagascar TIGER PRAWN with Josper sauce in Batallaky (special butter)

-SHORT RIBE BAO, with sambal aioli and pickled mushrooms -BAKLAVA, with honey and rose jelly, mascarpone ice cream

At the 4th edition of Millesime GNP Weekend at the Rosewood this past May, Luis discovered many new wines and spirits to pair with Chef Sandoval’s offerings; he was already thinking ahead. At Atrio’s Mesa Epicure, 10 courses with pairings will be served and the chef will introduce new food from around the world. In our own tasting trip around the globe, we caught flavors from India, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France, Japan, Madagascar, Thailand, China and Southeast Asia.

The maximum for the table, located just a step down from the kitchen, is 10. Reservations are accepted every night, depending on availability, and don’t forget to advise the staff of any allergies. The table will have the luxury of personalized service from Chef Arturo Sandoval, Luis Vela and owners, José María Calvo and Jesús Manuel Calvo. Traveling through Spain these past few years has definitely elevated his cooking. Back at Atrio, the seat of his culinary creations, Chef Arturo Sandoval works with an experienced team to execute Mexican, Peruvian, Spanish and other cuisines, and is committed to setting the standard for how a restaurant experience should be for ATRIO’s guests."That was never taught in school," he said, and he’s mastered that art as well. Mesa Epicure will be the perfect addition to a restaurant that’s already been defined by culinary excellence. As Atrio gets ready to rewrite the culinary history book, I’m still digesting the fact that their Soft Shell Crab Taco is the same price as it was 8 years ago Although I say that life’s too short to stay in one zip code these days, whenever I’m in San Miguel de Allende, Atrio is home! Atrio Cuna de Allende 3, Centro San Miguel de Allende, GTO Open Daily: Lunch: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM Dinner: 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM Mesa Epicure: Dinner 7:00 PM Reservations: 415 688 1405 Chef: Arturo Sandoval Photos: Susan Knight York

Cafe Aldama 57

We love a chef who delivers something special and Chef Juan Carlos Hernandez of Cafe Aldama 57 is the master of those unique, culinary offerings in SMA. We started writing about him in 2023, when Café Aldama 57 first opened, and haven’t stopped talking about his food since then.

The menu is small but consistently exceptional, especially the Lechon and Avocado Toast; the BEST breakfast dish we’ve eaten in SMA all year with just 3 more months to go. In fact, we thought this dish was so good we invited two of SMA’s favorite restaurateurs to try it: Sebastian Acosta Quiroz, a Chilean born sommelier turned business executive who previously worked for Hotel Matilda, Aperi, Dos Casas, Cumpanio, Casa de Los Olivos, Jacinto and Panio and just last week, Toño Aranda Lavalle, a partner with brother, Andrés Aranda Lavalle; owners of Bocaciega, Tostevere, La Choperia and Fari, four of SMA’s most popular restaurants. We wanted to know what the experts thought too because many of them own the best palates in town. The conclusion was unanimous - Sebastian and Tono both loved Café Aldama 57 and Chef Juan Carlos Hernandez’s cooking their first time out.

Another great dish is his French Toast. The chef recently changed up the recipe and I don’t think he can make it any better … but knowing him, he probably will. The last time I had French Toast this good was in Paris; pain perdu with a crispy, caramelized crust and a creamy, custardy interior.

Great food is defined by the chef and Juan Carlos worked for renowned chef, Francisco Ruano, at Alcalde in Guadalajara; rated one of the 50 best restaurants in the world. His Guadalajara offerings on the Cafe Aldama 57 menu are divine: Birria and Torta Ahogada. He also worked for Chef Paul Bentley at Magno Brasserie, where he crafted a menu that delighted diners with authentic, smoky flavors straight from the grill. He moved to Bovine Brasserie in SMA to continue his passion for grilling and French food. He’s part of the chef team at Moxi in Hotel Matilda under the direction of Chef Vicente Torres, who is one of the great chefs of Mexico. Café Aldama 57 is also part of that group.

Most of the dishes at Cafe Aldama 57 are priced around $200 pesos; a bargain for the quality and ingredients. Cafe Aldama 57 is old world: quiet, cozy and welcoming but we also love the ambiance. Where else can you sit in a big window, that opens up to one of the most beautiful streets in the world, and shower morning greetings on friends who are off to Parque Juarez for a run? It doesn’t get more local than that! We all want different things out of a restaurant. Bruce James, Managing Partner of Matilda, just wanted a good cup of coffee in the morning so he opened Cafe Aldama 57. What he got instead was the best place for breakfast in San Miguel de Allende. CAFÉ ALDAMA 57 Aldama 57, Centro Daily 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM/ Closed Tuesday Phone: 415 688 2284 Chef: Juan Carlos Hernandez