Since we profiled her in the July/August 2016 issue of Haute Living magazine, Ayesha Curry has upped her game tenfold. The wife to basketball hot shot Stephen Curry, launched a meal delivery service geared toward families (Homemade), debuted a television show on the Food Network (Ayesha’s Home Kitchen), she appeared at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, developed her own line of cookware, and became a Covergirl spokesmodel. In just over a year she established herself as one of the Bay Area’s top ten boss ladies. Now she’s added bonafide restauranteur to her resume. International Smoke, her pop-up concept in partnership with Michael Mina Test Kitchen, evolved into a stand alone restaurant. The new International Smoke is now open at 301 Mission Street in San Francisco in the space occupied by an old Mina restaurant, RN74.
International Smoke is a collaboration between Curry and Mina, inspired by their individual heritages and travels. The menu features a global compilation of dishes enhanced by fire, smoke, and grilling. “My diversity is reflected in the way that I cook,” Curry said in a statement. “Grilling is the perfect way to experiment and taste different flavors, cuts of meat, and styles of cooking. They all have one thing in common: that delicious taste is reminiscent of an outdoor family gathering! It just doesn’t get any better.” Curry worked extensively with Mina’s 600 member culinary team to hone her recipes and learn techniques from other cultures. For example, chef Raj Dixit, of Michael Mina’s SF flagship, shared his mother’s Indian fish fry recipe. Chef and partner of Pabu, Ken Tominaga, taught Curry how to cook over binchotan, a type of charcoal used in traditional Japanese cookery.
International Smoke is open for lunch, Monday through Friday, and dinner every night of the week. “Our menu highlights global flavors that are balanced out by pairing an array of spices with delicious meats and fresh produce, and we have created dishes that are bold and dynamic,” Mina said in the same statement. Many of the dishes were inspired by the items prepared in Mina’s kitchens for family meal before service. So what’s on the menu? Char-grilled shellfish, smoked burrata, shaking beef lettuce wraps, duck wings, pork shoulder, pork ribs, Armenian lamb, Argentine rib eye, and much more. The space was designed by Los Angeles-based firm, Bishop Pass, and the beverage program features fresh, seasonal cocktails inspired by countries around the world along with a global beer list.
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