Celeb Chef-Backed Barbecue Restaurant Set for Spring Opening

With a globe-trotting menu and two high-profile chefs behind it, International Smoke is one of the bigger culinary standouts slated for One Paseo, Carmel Valley’s new mixed-use development where the notable roster also includes Shake Shack, Tender Greens, Salt & Straw Ice Cream, and Blue Bottle Coffee. First unveiled in downtown San Francisco, the steadily-growing restaurant brand already has another location in Houston and a branch planned for Miami. Spanning 288 seats, with a 6,200-square-foot interior and 2,000-square-foot patio, the he One Paseo outpost is currently scheduled to open in Spring 2019 next to The Butchery.

Founded by cookbook author and TV host Ayesha Curry and Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina, the barbecue-focused eatery reflects the chefs’ travels and their heritages, highlighting world cuisines through dishes based on grilling, smoking, and cooking over an open flame. Acclaimed chefs from Mina’s other kitchens also contributed; an Indian fish fry with spiced-crusted snapper, turmeric pickles, and raïta is based on a recipe from Michael Mina executive chef Raj Dixit’s mother and Pabu chef/partner Ken Tominaga lent his expertise with Japanese binchōtan to a dish of grilled lobster with Japanese curry-spiced yakiudon. Other dishes will include duck wings with jerk spice and sticky mango and “Three Little Pigs,” a trio of pork preparations featuring St. Louis spareribs, Southwestern adovada ribs, and Korean gochujang ribs.

International Smoke will offer lunch on weekdays, daily dinner service, and happy hour.

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