Featured
A fusion of flavors: La Fonda del Bosque pulls inspiration from Belize, Mexico, New Mexico and America
Inspired by the cuisines of Belize, Mexico, New Mexico and America, La Fonda del Bosque offers a creative fusion of flavors.
鈥淲e just sort of take these tried and true recipes and then we kind of tweak them a little bit,鈥� said Stefani Mangrum, owner and chef. 鈥淎 perfect example would be our chile rellenos, which are not traditional. They are in a tempura batter with caramelized shitake mushrooms and roasted garlic and goat cheese, and then that鈥檚 served with a corn coulis.鈥�
The restaurant鈥檚 tacos have been a hit with patrons.
鈥淲e do beef, chicken or carne asada tacos and (they are garnished) with Baja cabbage, which is classic California not New Mexican, but it adds a beautiful crunch to the taco with guacamole and pico de gallo and queso fresca,鈥� Mangrum said. 鈥淭hose are wonderful. I always tell my guests that it鈥檚 a commitment because once you pick it up you can鈥檛 put it back down. So that鈥檚 one of our most popular dishes.鈥�
Another popular request is not influenced by Latin cuisine. Its chicken and mushroom with marjoram crepe is one of its bestsellers.
鈥淓verybody adores it, but it鈥檚 something that I cannot not have on the menu because of my regular customers,鈥� Mangrum explained.
Light but popular are its salads.
A fusion of flavors: La Fonda del Bosque pulls inspiration from Belize, Mexico, New Mexico and America
鈥淲e do a chicken Cobb with green chile, mesquite chicken and avocado,鈥� Mangrum said. 鈥淎nd we do a carne asada steak salad with a black bean relish and fresh avocado, pico de gallo ... Also, one of the things that everybody loves is our fresh baked bread that we make here every day.鈥�
The menu slightly changes two to three times a year. However, there are mainstays that customers cannot part with including the green chile chicken pasta made with penne pasta, pan seared chicken, green chile, tomato, cilantro, white wine cream sauce and topped with cojita cheese.
Its full lunch and dinner menus can be found at .
鈥淭here are standards on there that I cannot change such as the chile relleno and the green chile chicken pasta,鈥� Mangrum explained. 鈥淪o that can鈥檛 come off. We sort of supplement the menu with daily specials and that鈥檚 how we keep it fresh and a little bit more expanded.鈥�
The Mexican, New Mexican and American comfort food influences are self-explanatory. But the Belizean inspiration stems for her adoration of the country.
鈥淚t is a place that is near and dear to my heart,鈥� Mangrum expressed. 鈥淚鈥檝e spent a lot of time in Belize, in San Pedro, and actually was looking to relocate there years ago. It has warm, wonderful people and it鈥檚 warm there. I love it.鈥�
Mangrum鈥檚 menu offerings stem from her California upbringing and her grandmother鈥檚 cooking.
鈥淚 was taught to love food by my grandmother, my maternal grandmother, who was like the best cook in the world,鈥� Mangrum exclaimed. 鈥淚 have been cooking since I was probably five or six. I grew up watching Julia Child on PBS and the 鈥楪alloping Gourmet.鈥� It鈥檚 great for a kid to be watching those shows. I鈥檝e cooked all my life. I am classically trained in hotel and restaurant management and also (at the) California Culinary Academy. I鈥檝e been cooking for over 45 years.鈥�
The appealing food matches the charm of the restaurant, which is in the courtyard of the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 Fourth St. SW. The ambiance is comfortable, casual and inviting. Works by local artists adorn the walls and are available for purchase. Orchids on every table add an elegant touch.
El Fonda del Bosque is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. It is also open on Friday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. The space can also be reserved for private events and celebrations.
鈥淚t is a most beautiful space,鈥� Mangrum said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 located inside an old schoolhouse, which was San Jose Elementary. It鈥檚 the traditional kind of Spanish shaped building with a beautiful massive cottonwood in the center and a fountain with a patio for outside dining ... It鈥檚 a gorgeous restaurant space with massive windows with gorgeous woodwork and a gorgeous fireplace that doesn鈥檛 work so we put candles in it.鈥�
