INCA Ponsonby's New and Inspired Mañana Menu
With Ponsonby known for its vibrant food scene morning to night, the wake of a new brunch spot naturally had expectations set high. INCA, the Japanese-Peruvian restaurant, already well-established and known for its evening service, decided in mid-April to expand its offerings, unveiling its highly-anticipated Mañana Menu – available now every Saturday and Sunday morning.
“We think this style of cuisine lends itself well to the Ponsonby brunch scene, both for those wanting a quick bite to eat on their weekend walk or shopping trip down the Ponsonby strip and for those looking for a longer, more leisurely brunch,” owner and chef-restaurateur, Nic Watt shares.
Upon reading the new morning menu with its tempting blend of sweet and savoury, I decided I simply had to explore for myself and to no surprise, this was a feast to remember.
With floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over Richmond Road, the morning sun poured in, elevating the already gorgeous interior that notably took inspiration from Latin America and Asia – much like its menu.
My partner and I decided ‘go big or go home’ so between the two of us shared the smoked salmon tacos with scrambled egg, chilli, and pickled red onion with capers – sitting on hand-pressed corn masa, these were simply divine. For a hearty meal, we had the INCA grande with chorizo, bacon, soft tortilla, Mexican tomato, avocado and 2 fried eggs. And finally, to satisfy that sweet tooth, we tried the churros with bacon, maple syrup and chilli-fried eggs. Was it necessary after our two meals? Absolutely not, but oh so delicious!
Unfortunately, I didn’t try any of the cocktails from the brunch menu, but it was still great to know the option was there with an assortment to choose from. Next time, I will definitely need to try the Guava Bellini with its house-made umeshu, guava sorbet, bubbles and elderflower.
Topped with lovely and attentive service, the INCA Mañana menu is a stop I can’t recommend enough for my fellow brunch lovers in the Ponsonby area!
Head to www.incarestaurant.co.nz to find out more about the restaurant and explore the full Mañana menu.
latest issue:
126
We start by sharing what’s on the dish team’s radar, what we’re watching, listening to and reading. Harry Butterfield puts a twist on his Nonna’s agnolotti, Malissa Fedele reminds us of the importance of fibre, and Phoebe Holden fulfils a long-held dream, sitting down with Yotam Ottolenghi. Autumn is an abundant time, we make the most with pumpkin, kūmara, cabbage, cauliflower, feijoas, apples and pears. We’re dishing up dinners for two, including a Chicken Dumpling Lasagne, alongside easy weeknight meals. We honour our mums, revisit timeless classics, and add a little baking challenge. This issue, we encourage you to slow down, to enjoy writing your shopping list, and spending time in the kitchen. Because even when life feels relentless, there’s always space to share something delicious.