Executive Chef Ramon Velazquez Opens Alma Fonda Fina Restaurant in Montecito
Executive Chef and a 2024 California Michelin Bib Gourmand winner, Ramon Velazquez has opened his restaurant Alma Fonda Fina in the Montecito Country Mart.
To celebrate, Velázquez held a Labor Day weekend soft opening from Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2. Taking Tuesday and Wednesday off, Alma is officially open on Thursday, September 5.
I arrived at the restaurant for its Saturday opening and was greeted by Alma Supervisor Brandon Velazquez and Operations Manager Andres Velasco at their outside reception desk. The buzz on the sidewalk had many locals – along with happily surprised tourists – taking a seat for the fine dining offerings.
I spoke with Velasco, who explained that the menu will be changed weekly, featuring locally sourced food and ingredients. All food is prepared fresh at the restaurant and served family style. The onsite Head Chef is Alan Alva, assisted by a full staff of prep and sous-chefs.
Velázquez has positioned Alma Fonda Fina as the sister restaurant to his Michelin Bib Award Winning restaurant Corazon Cocina, located in Santa Barbara’s Public Market downtown.
He and I talked about this new jewel he has added to his restaurateur business:
MJ: Tell us about the special touches of Alma Fonda Fina you have created.
Ramon Velazquez: “The menu is designed for Alma, and Fonda Fina means small restaurant with fine food. It is very familiar and approachable, serving local ingredients, seasonal sustainable fish, and the flavors of Mexico. The idea is for you to be on vacation, to be transported to a place in Mexico with the food and the beaches.
We take a lot of pride in sourcing organic non-GMO blue corn from Oaxaca, Mexico for our tortillas. The restaurant space formerly was Little Alex’s. We wanted to make our restaurant more refined, the way people like to eat in Montecito; organic, lighter, healthier, and at the same time feel like they are eating a great meal in Mexico.”
Is your mom, Imelda Saldivar-Hernandez, going to help out here as she is doing at Corazon Cocina?
“Yes and no. Originally, she was, but she is dedicated to our downtown restaurant which is inspired by her recipes, her cooking, and the markets in downtown Mexico. Alma is not inspired by that – each dish here is elevated and dedicated for Alma. This does not have my mom’s cooking, [laughs] but for sure she gave us her words of wisdom and some pointers after trying the food.”
Are you planning your next restaurant, and where would it be?
“I got into a restaurant business of food because I wanted to make the food I love to eat, and share it with this little world of Santa Barbara. I never thought I would be a businessman, and last year I received an award. At the end of the day, it’s a numbers game and it’s a business. I have a goal; I have kids and hopefully they will continue my restaurants. Jim Rosenfield and I talk about this, he is a visionary, a dreamer like me, we have this in common. He puts a tenant in a space he sees fit, and a tenant that his kids will be able to work with. We talked about another restaurant at his shops in Brentwood and Malibu. For now, Alma is our baby to take care of and nurture it.”
The Collaboration of Velázquez with Montecito Country Mart Owner
Jim Rosenfield is also well noted in the dining chairs, which are one hundred-year-old chairs from the Cate School Summerland Booth Commons dining hall. Rosenfield refurbished them for Alma Fonda Fina. They are painted white with a gold plaque on the back recognizing Cate School. Additional décor details include a long back wall with a lush velvet magenta bench seat, a partial view of the kitchen through glass window panes, and the cream-colored fringed sun umbrellas for outdoor dining.
Rosenfield shared his personal thoughts on Alma Fonda Fina, “I personally love the Ceviche Cuixmala, tuna tostada and wagyu beef taco. The rice pudding is out of this world. As my son says, ‘This is not your mother’s taqueria’. Our family has been enjoying Ramon’s cooking for many years; I am sure Montecito residents and visitors will be delighted by what he has created.”
Hours of Operation: Starting September 5, Thursday – 11:00am – 9:00pm from there on!
Location: 1024 Coast Village Road Suite A Santa Barbara, CA 93108
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