INKI

INKI is a Peruvian restaurant created by Valery Gorinov. The interior is inspired by the ancient civilization, and the cuisine adapts traditional Peruvian dishes to suit European tastes.

In the summer of 2024, Valery Gorinov opened his first signature restaurant, where the chef not only shared his vision of Peruvian cuisine but also, for the first time, created the concept for the entire project. INKI is located in the center of St. Petersburg, in one of the buildings on Konnogvardeisky Boulevard. Just a few minutes' walk from the restaurant are the English Embankment and the "New Holland" island. Valery Gorinov's interest in Peruvian cuisine began during his internship in southern Spain at the Quique Dacosta restaurant (3 Michelin stars) – this experience was invaluable for INKI. At that time, the chef worked alongside Peruvian and Spanish cooks, learning about their tastes and gastronomic traditions. Eight years have passed since then, but even now, before launching a new project, Valery sought advice from his longtime friends who are experts in the culture. In addition, not long ago, the chef visited several countries in Latin America: Mexico and Venezuela. The cuisine at INKI is an adaptation of traditional Peruvian dishes to suit European tastes, with Valery Gorinov's signature touch and his passion for combining textures and flavors. The chef has placed particular emphasis on seafood: guests will immediately notice the ceviche section, which includes a starter made with the rare oceanic fish, "pingalo." A significant portion of the menu consists of authentic dishes: "Picarones" with salmon (spiced donuts made from sweet potato and pumpkin); "Anticuchos" from veal heart (Peruvian skewers); "Chicken Juané" (chicken with saffron rice wrapped in banana leaves); "Parrot fish" with "achi amarillo" sauce (achi amarillo is a type of chili pepper with honey notes, widely used in Peru). The other dishes will be more familiar: beef tartare, potatoes cooked in charcoal with red caviar, grilled octopus, and more. The dessert menu for the new restaurant was prepared by guest pastry chef Andrey Baglai. All the dishes in this section continue Valery Gorinov's main menu concept and showcase his unique approach to working with exotic cuisine. For example, the "Nikkei" dessert (a reference to the influence of Japan on Peruvian culinary development) is made with rice pudding, chocolate, peanuts, soft caramel, and coconut ice cream. INKI has an extensive wine list, which, in addition to exceptional Champagnes, offers a wide selection of wines that can be paired with any dish, with the help of the sommelier. The restaurant also features a selection of pisco and mezcal. The restaurant, which can accommodate 70 guests, is divided into two intimate dining rooms and an open terrace in a courtyard hidden from the noise of the surrounding streets. The interior for INKI was designed by Ksenia Smirnova. It is rich in references to the ancient civilization: massive columns with bas-reliefs and images of gods, hand-painted walls depicting scenes of Inca hunting, a large amount of stone and live plants, soft lighting, and an original pattern on the furniture. Even the sound design is carefully considered: a unique musical playlist, lasting dozens of hours, in the downtempo style with its slow, mesmerizing, and meditative rhythm, was created specifically for the restaurant. The team was provided with distinctive clothing featuring hieroglyphs and ethnic prints by Yuri Pitenin (Saint-Tokyo). The team's plans for the near future include developing a signature gastronomic set menu, and they are already working on their evening music program: every Friday and Saturday from 9:00 PM, guest DJs perform at the restaurant. In September 2024, the restaurant team launched its first brunch, which will be held once a month from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM in an open buffet format for a fixed price, including unlimited sparkling wine.