Conscientious My Neighbor Felix Showcases Mexico’s 7 Culinary Regions
A few of us decided to go out for dinner and drinks in Downtown Denver! We loved the experience at My Neighbor Felix, a lively restaurant in the LoHi neighborhood. This location is situated amongst other eateries and bars, and is the perfect spot for a night out!
As we waited for our table, we went next door to The Bindery for some pre-dinner cocktails. They were fabulous! We ended up just having one drink there, as our table became ready shortly after we put in our drink order.
My Neighbor Felix’s Story
My Neighbor Felix is a pan-Mexican kitchen, a cuisine inspired by all seven regions of Mexico. With four locations in Colorado, this local chain is based on The Legend of Felix & The Key – a Mayan tale about a man who wins the love of a goddess after passionately making offerings of food & libations from recipes passed down through generations of his Mexican ancestors.
Promises
I love that this restaurant is committed to quality. I also appreciated that they had some healthy options. In order to maintain their quality standards, My Neighbor Felix makes a few promises to its guests:
First, My Neighbor Felix promises to use carefully-selected ingredients for their recipes, using fresh, local, and natural options whenever possible. They also serve “never ever” meat products with no antibiotics, no hormones, and no by-products. They also carefully source Colorado produce.
Second, they are also committed to sourcing locally grown & responsibly sourced ingredients from dozens of Colorado farms and beverage companies. They believe in doing their part to support local businesses, as well as Colorado’s economy.
Third, they are passionate about community and loving their neighbors. They give back, treat people fairly, support local, and engage the neighborhood. Their concept, menu, and vibe is proudly inclusive and is a space where everyone is welcome.
Last, My Neighbor Felix is sustainable! In order to reduce their carbon footprint, they source eco-friendly disposables and metal straws. They also use energy efficient lighting, recycle, and source ethically raised meat products.
See another eatery in Downtown Denver.
7 Regions
Mexican cuisine comes from seven important regions in Mexico. Food in each of these regions holds distinctive characteristics. Differences within the crops and spices leave clues as to where these dishes have originated from. Understanding these regions will help you gain the knowledge of knowing where My Neighbor Felix’s food has been inspired from.
The North
Areas: Baja, Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Nuevo Leon & Tamaulipas
Known For: Ranching, Beef, Queso Fresco, Grilling, Wheat & Flour Tortillas & Fish Tacos
Felix Dishes: Langosta Taco, Carne Asada Fajitas, Burrito, Mexican Caesar, Ensalada & Breakfast Burrito
The South
Areas: Campeche, Yucatán & Quintana Roo
The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. Habaneros Yucatán food is different from that of much of Mexico with strong Mayan, Caribbean, French, and Middle Easter Culinary Traditions.
Known For: Tropical Fruits & Avocados
Felix Dishes: Guacamole, Pork Empanadas, Cochinita Pibil, Ensalada de Mercado, Sweet Fried Plaintains, Braised Pork Benedict & Avocado Toast
North Pacific Coast
Areas: Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco & Colina
Known For: Grains, Fruits & Veggies, Local Cheese, Chiles & Seafood
Felix Dishes: Pescado Frito Taco, Roasted Butternut Squash Enchiladas, Ancient Grain Breakfast Bowl & Tres Leches Waffles
South Pacific Coast
Areas: Guerrero, Oaxaca & Chiapas
Known For: Spanish-Introduced Chicken & Pork, Oaxaca is known for 7 varieties of Mole, Indigenous Mixtec & Zapotec Culinary Traditions & Corn Tortillas
Felix Dishes: Brisket Empanadas, Pollo Rostizado Taco, Rotisserie Chicken, Smoky Black Beans, Aztec Bowl, Rotisserie Skillet & Enfrijoladas
The Bajio
Areas: Michoacán, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi & Queretaro
Known For: Mountains & Rivers Resembling Spain, Spanish/European Influence, Rice, Pork, Indigenous Purepecha Cultural Traditions, Guadalajara Agriculture & Spices.
Felix Dishes: Queso Fundido, Flautas de Chorizo, Chorizo Cojita, Goddess Bowl & Mexican Fried Rice
The Gulf
Areas: Tabasco & Veracrus
Known For: Indigenous, Spanish Mediterranean, Afro-Caribbean Influences such as the use of Zesty Flavors of Citrus & Nuts & Gulf of Mexico Seafood
Felix Dishes: Goddess Hibiscus Chips, Red Snapper Ceviche & Whole Red Snapper
Central Mexico
Areas: Puebla, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo & Distrito Federal (Federal District/Mexico City)
Known For: Street Food
Felix Dishes: Quesadilla, Americano Taco, Pambazo Burger, Chili Verde, Churro French Toast
