The idea of cooking with love goes a step further at certain Denver restaurants where the owners not only live together, but also work as a team. Celebrate and experience the love these owners and chefs give not only to their food, restaurants, and staff, but each other too.
Nicole and Scott Mattson of Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club
Anyone who has experienced a night of live music paired with wine and dinner at Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club in RiNo has been given a glimpse of owners Nicole and Scott Mattson’s love. This not only makes for a lovely evening, but the perfect date spot too. In fact, the venue was born out of love for the music and hospitality the husband and wife duo share.
But before Nocturne and power couple status, Scott studied music and spent about six years as a working jazz drummer. He got a degree in music but later focused on all things wine. He became the head buyer for a local wine shop and is now a certified sommelier. On the other hand, Nicole has extensive experience in management and teaches hospitality courses at her alma mater, the University of Denver. Combining their experience and personal joys, Nocturne became a destination both for jazz fans and dining lovers. 1330 27th St., Denver, nocturnejazz.com
Cliff and Cara Blauvelt of Odie B’s
For 10 years Cliff and Cara Blauvelt had a work and friend sort of relationship. They originally met at Steuben’s, where Cara resided front-of-house and Cliff in the kitchen. Eventually they both left, kept in contact, and eventually reconnected a handful of years ago. This time, romantic feelings kicked in and the couple were married October 1, 2022.
That same year the pair opened Odie B’s (formally called Bodega), and recently launched a second location in RiNo. Soon the Blauvelts will have Boombots Pasta Shop to add to the family, which has thrived due to the duo’s love for the industry and each other. 2651 W. 38th Ave., Denver, and 1350 40th St. Suite 180, Denver, odie-bs.com
Jennifer and Jake Linzinmeir of Jovanina’s Broken Italian
Jovanina’s Broken Italian is a love letter from Jake to his wife Jennifer, whose Italian heritage inspired the chef. Together the pair has more than 40 years of combined experience in restaurants, which they showcase through the warm, welcoming, and romantic atmosphere of the LoDo restaurant.
In fact, dining at Jovanina’s reflects how the duo eats at home, with locally-sourced and seasonal ingredients to create sharable plates. The Linzinmeirs have created a menu of vegetable-forward dishes, handmade pasta, seafood, steaks, and wood-fired pizza for everyone, not just lovers, to enjoy. 1520 Blake St., Denver, jovanina.com
Doris Yuen and Kenneth Wan of MAKfam
The spice at MAKfam doesn’t just come from the kitchen, but the love match between Doris Yuen and Kenneth Wan, the wife and husband duo who own the restaurant. The pair started their joint restaurant idea with Meta Asian Kitchen at Avanti Food & Beverage in Denver. They opened MAKfam in 2023 with the goal to not just make tasty food, but showcase MSG as a common Asian ingredient.
As for how they met, well it was New York City, 2014. During this time period Yuen worked in the biotech industry, though owning and operating her own restaurant had always been a dream. Wan, who studied at the International Culinary Center, was already deep into his cheffing career with stints at Xi’an Famous Foods and Momofuku Ssam Bar. Meta Asian Kitchen actually started as a concept the pair built in New Jersey before moving to Denver in 2019. The rest is culinary history, as their restaurant goals grew so did their family, and now their toddler can often be seen at events and in the South Broadway eatery. 39 W. 1st Ave., Denver, makfam.co
Anna and Ni Nguyen of Sắp Sửa
After a year of accolades for the Vietnamese restaurant Sắp Sửa, it’s time to shine some light on the husband and wife duo who run it. Chefs Ni and Anna Nguyen opened the East Colfax eatery in the summer of 2023, and have solidified their love for each other and the restaurant ever since. Taste it in the famous egg dish, or through a glass of wine or cocktail. 2550 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, sapsua.com
Mary Allison Wright and McClain Hedges of Yacht Club
One of Denver’s best bars is also owned by a power couple. Mary Allison Wright and McClain Hedges opened Yacht Club in 2021, focused on the pair’s collective interest and knowledge of great wine, spirits, and cocktails. This isn’t Mary and McClain’s first venture together either, they have consulted on restaurant drink lists and used to run a now-shuttered bottle shop in The Source. Stop by Yacht Club for a pour and a hot dog and say hi to these amazing love birds. 3701 N. Williams St., Denver, yachtclubbar.com
Cindhura Reddy and Elliot Strathmann of Spuntino
One of the cutest duos in the business have run their Indian-influenced Italian restaurant in Highland since 2014. Over the decade not only has Spuntino changed, but chef Cindhura Reddy and shifted her menu to highlight ingredients from her Indian heritage. Her husband, Elliot Strathmann, has been with her along the way, handling the wine and amaro program to pair with these delights. Recently the couple welcomed a daughter into the family, and while she’s too young to work the line, she’s already part of the love that permeates the intimate restaurant. 2639 W. 32nd Ave., Denver, spuntinodenver.com
Cierra and Matt de Gruyter of Next Level Burger
In 2014 Cierra and Matt de Gruyter founded Next Level Burger, America’s first 100-percent, plant-based burger chain. Now, their love child has grown to 10 locations coast to coast. But before there was Next Level, there were just the two of them and a meet-cute while attending Metro State University in Denver.
It was Cierra’ interest in plant-based eating that originally inspired Matt to research the positive environmental impacts of a vegan diet. This path lead them both to the restaurant industry. In 2024 they acquired Veggie Grill, making the couple the driving force behind the largest, wholly owned plant-based chain in North America. When not canoodling on the couch, Matt operates as CEO of the 25 locations they own. Cierra serves as chief visionary officer for the company, focusing on menu, design, marketing, and guest experience. Multiple locations, nextlevelburger.com
Dana Faulk Query and Dave Query of Big Red F Restaurant Group
Together this husband-and-wife team run Big Red F Restaurant Group, which boasts The Post, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Centro Mexican Kitchen, West End Tavern, and Velvet Elk Lounge. The couple has been married since 2013, and both bring a wealth of restaurant experience to the table.
Dave trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and remains the overseeing chef of the group. Dana grew up in the restaurant business, which gives her a handle on the ins and outs of marketing and other creative tasks for the group. And together, their love strengthens the restaurant group. Multiple restaurants, bigredf.com
Elisa Garcia and Leonardo Munoz-Corona of Viva! Mexi-Coffee-Shop
VIVA! Mexi-coffee-shop opened in August, 2024 on East Colfax, brought to us by the lovely husband and wife team, Elisa Garcia and Leonardo Munoz-Corona. While she grew up in Denver, Garcia comes from Uruguay, and her husband immigrated from Mexico. Oddly enough, they didn’t meet in any of those locations.
Instead, both hospitality experts were living in Singapore and got to talking. After connecting over music originally, the two got married abroad and then moved to Los Angeles before ending up in Denver in 2018. With their colorful coffee shop the love seeps through the homemade guava pastry, almond croissant, rich Mexican hot chocolate, and espresso drinks. 4900 E. Colfax Ave., no website
Johnny and Kasie Curiel of Alma Fonda Fina
The first restaurant love child of these two industry vets was Alma Fonda Fina, which opened last year to tons of fan fare and the highest accolades. Chef Johnny Curiel and his wife Kasie went on to launch Cozobi Fonda Fina in Boulder later in the year, and then Mezcaleria Alma in December. The couple have another restaurant planned for this year, continuing to spread the upscale, regional Mexican food the restaurants are known for.
With each spot the Curiels bolster a solid, close-knit team that showcases their dedication to the restaurants and each other. Johnny serves as executive chef of the restaurants, while Kasie deals with the floor. It’s a perfect match we’ve enjoyed watching. Multiple restaurants
Austin Carson and Heather Morrison of Restaurant Olivia
Just by watching Austin Carson and Heather Morrison work around their Washington Park Italian restaurant one wouldn’t assume they’re a couple, but the husband and wife team have been married since 2017. Named after Morrison’s daughter, Restaurant Olivia is the couple’s baby, and was born at the beginning of 2020 with a focus on pasta. Through thick and thin it’s succeeded, selling the best lasagna to-go during the pandemic and expanding in 2023. Now the team, which also includes chef Ty Leon, will open a second spot later this year called Emilia, which will also focus on Italian food. 290 S. Downing St., Denver, oliviadenver.com
