As a ‘Chopped’ winner, Mexican-Jewish chef, and restaurateur, Dafna Mizrahi is no stranger to the beauty found in the world of the culinary arts.
“I fell in love with the hospitality industry at a very young age,” Curamia CEO and Co-Founder Mizrahi says. “For me, the kitchen was my canvas. It was the place in which I could find myself being creative and giving others joy.”
After winning ‘Chopped’ in 2015, Mizrahi was propelled into the public eye with TV features and name recognition—an opportunity the chef says was the catalyst to her decision to explore a venture in tequila.
“I think every influence and every decision we make follows our path and shapes our future,” Mizrahi says. “The hospitality industry has so many routes and so many arms. You can be creative and have a lot of influence. It’s about taking every opportunity, making the most of it, and always staying true to who I am and the mark I want to leave behind.”
Curamia, meaning “my cure,” represents Mizrahi’s goal to stand out and distinguish her tequila from a sea of mediocre, distilled spirits. The brand, designed by Mizrahi and Co-Founder and Director of Sales Melissa Del Savio to be a “cure for the ordinary,” features a genre-bending, wellness-driven, and lifestyle focus.
“As an immigrant, it has always been important to showcase my beautiful culture in the most authentic way,” Mizrahi says. “And what’s better than through our spirit?”
The chef recalls questioning why Mexico was never showcased as beautifully as she remembers experiencing it in her formative years. Most people, Mizrahi says, associate the popular alcoholic beverage with the faces of Hollywood. But to the chef, tequila belongs to Mexico.
“As a Mexican, it is important to create a product that is the highest quality, free of additives, and at the most authentic and accessible price point,” Mizrahi says. “This is so that not only a certain demographic is able to enjoy what my country has to offer.”
The Curamia story begins in the rich fields of Jalisco, Mexico with sustainability at the forefront. At the foot of the Tequila Waterfall, natural spring water absorbs a host of minerals from the nutrient-rich volcanic soil. The tequila is harmonized with the mineral-laden spring water through a proprietary process for a soft, herbal finish.
