A Restaurant Led by Ancient Hispanic Cuisine Is Opening Next Week

Fresh from closing the doors of his transient pop-up in Avondale's Woodworks Café, Chef Javier Carmona has now found a permanent home in the heart of the city to stretch his culinary legs.

If you don't know much about Chef Carmona, he's the man who brought things like fried chicken to Mexico, melty smoked mozzarella to Oaken, and the striking bouquet on plate concept to Beirut. And with 27 years experience under his apron, he certainly knows a thing or two.

Carmona's new venture will trace a similar path to Etxeberria, investigating the harmony and evolution of Mexican and Spanish cuisines. Though, this time the focus will be squarely on ancient Hispanic cuisine. Named after the ancient Incan sun god, Inti will explore modern interpretations of South American ingredients, flavours and techniques through a selection of traditional Mexican street foods known as "little cravings", larger sharing dishes and desserts.

"Hispanic food and culture is firmly rooted in the family," said Javier Carmona, "At Inti we hope to surprise and offer a thoughtful experience, that will expand perceptions of an ancient cuisine."

One glance at the menu suggests that Carmona certainly won't be doing things by halves. Come opening day next week, diners can expect to sample a torta ahogada — a drowned sandwich with alpaca as the headlining protein; anticucho, a Peruvian dish consisting of small skewered pieces of meat (squid in this instance); chicken wings with agave, cacao and paw paw; and vanilla queso burnt pineapple with cucumber ice.

The space is set to be fitted out with a polished concrete bar, timber flooring, and Hispanic-inspired artwork created by aerosol artist, Flox.

Inti opens Thursday August 17 on the corner of Chancery and O'Connell Streets, in Auckland's CBD. Book a table here.