By: Kyrie Sismaet By: Kyrie Sismaet | April 28, 2022 | Food & Drink, Restaurants, Eat and Drink, Celebrity,
Sitting proudly as one of the Financial District's prominent cornerstones on 301 Mission St is International Smoke, an intimate and refined steakhouse created by award-winning Chef Michael Mina and our Bay's own Ayesha Curry.
This ingenious and delicious collaboration by the acclaimed restauranteur and best-selling cookbook author began as a pop up, inspired by the partners' shared love of cultural travels, and now it has blossomed in Las Vegas, as well as its consistently thriving San Francisco flagship.
With an emphasis on utlizing all cooking methods of fire to highlight authentic cultural tastes, the successful venue has recently introduced their new hot "Fuego" tasting menu. At $85 a person, this cutting-edge experience within their posh dining room will be a generous 5-course meal paired perfectly with 4 different libations.
Each handcrafted plate features inventive gastronomical approaches to elevate fresh and global ingredients and cooking methods.
Aside from their highly-irresistable daily happy hour and cocktails, the new Fuego menu boasts over 10 filling, family-style dishes each individually packed with complex flavors, textures, and notes that are also complimented by the paired beverages.
A few delicious highlights from this extensive fiery flavor adventure are the lemongrass and ginger-forward Thai Curry Soup, the flully and rich "Peking" Smoked Pork Belly Bao Buns, their notorious Barbeque Ribs, and the Wood-Fired Roasted Salmon.
All this protein is delicately balanced with a curated selection of fresh greens, such as their Roasted Asparagus with umami black garlic oil, and their Chinese Broccoli with zesty ginger.
All are not too filing and are enhanced by each intermittenly served drink.
Intricate mixology and fine wine and beers are other shining specialties at this winning restaurant, for the Fuego menu includes a Toast of Rose to begin with the cornbread and curry (which perfectly works), a smoked pilsner, and a cocktail. We recommend their lavender-smoked Mas Que Nada topped with lime pearls.
The co-proprietor Chef Michael Mina has numerous accomplishments from having a Michelin star at his restaurant MICHAEL MINA, being a 2013 inductee of the James Beard Foundation “Who’s Who of Food & Beverage," becoming Bon Appétit Chef of the Year in 2005 and more. He has also served U.S. presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, and has made several television appearances.
With over 45 global restaurant operations, this venture with the equally successful Ayesha Curry grandly showcases his talents to the patrons of San Francisco.
Similarly, Ayesha Curry has many recognitions both as a New York Times best-selling cookbook author, television host and producer, and as a local Bay Area creator of Eat.Learn.Play with husband Steph Curry. Ayesha as also teamed up with the Ellen Degeneres Network for Fempire, which is aims to assist young female business owners and entrepreneurs.
Ayesha's leadership as an icon in all things food, event hosting, and design all helped to create International Smoke, with her aesthetics flowing all throughout the vibrant interior.
The atmosphere is casual, hip, and lavish, which all adds to both the dining experience and to the heart and soul of the business. International Smoke values community, cultural awareness, and connections through food, innovatively paralleling their restaurant to a wide culinary expedition without the passport.
Complimentary valet parking is available during the weekdays starting at 5pm on 50 Fremont Street, and reservations to this brilliant collaboration can be made on their site.
Photography by: Chad Montano/Unsplash
