James Beard-nominated chef Dionicio Jiménez, of Kensington’s Cantina La Martina, is coming to Ambler with his second restaurant, writes Michael Klein for The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Jiménez and his wife, Mariangeli Alicea Saez, are preparing to open La Baja, a moderately upscale BYOB that will offer the northern Mexican border cuisine of Baja featuring Mediterranean and Asian ingredients. 

According to the couple, Mexico’s northern border is the crucible of modern Mexican cuisine. 

“There is that perception that there’s only bad things that happen at the border,” said Saez. “There’s the social aspect of [immigration] that needs to be resolved by both countries, but also there’s so much good that also happens and contributes to the economy of this country.” 

The pair is hoping to open the door to the 30-seat restaurant in May. 

La Baja will allow Jiménez, who brought refined Mexican cooking to Kensington in 2022, to showcase the Italian cuisine that he mastered at the start of his Philadelphia career in the early 2000s. 

The offerings include a truffled huitlacoche risotto, which is a melding of Mexico and Italy, and mole negro with buffalo mozzarella, as well as many other delicious dishes. 

Read more about La Baja coming to Ambler in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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