A restaurant serving traditional Mediterranean food inspired by the flavours of the Canary Islands has opened its doors in Bath Street, St Helier.
Guachinche opened on Saturday 17 January and will be serving breakfast and lunch from 8am to 2.30pm, and dinner from 5.30pm to 9pm each day.
First-time restauranteurs Nuno Miguel Camacho and Ana Hilario have both spent years working in kitchens with the dream of opening their own restaurant.
Guachinche is inspired by Ana’s time living in Tenerife, where she “fell in love with the guachinche culture and that feeling of being welcomed like a guest in someone’s home”.
A guachinche is a type of traditional eatery found in the Canary Islands which tends to be more informal – often operating in improvised spaces in homes – and offering a limited menu of classic Canarian dishes.
The tradition originated with local farmers looking to sell excess wine which they had produced and deciding to serve home-cooked food in order to attract customers.
Ana and Nuno told Express: “We know the Guachinche experience – and certain Canary-inspired dishes – isn’t something you see often on the island.
“That’s why we’re starting with a familiar Mediterranean base, with Portuguese and Spanish influences people already know and love, and we’ll gradually introduce more Canary options as we see how people respond and what they ask for.
“The idea is to grow with the community, without losing the essence.”
She added: “Our vision is to bring Jersey authentic flavours with roots, and to create a table where people feel truly cared for and want to share.
“We want Guachinche to be a place you genuinely look forward to coming back to – not only because the food tastes great, but because the experience feels warm, close, and worth it every time.
“In such a saturated market, our aim is to offer something genuinely different: flavours to discover, dishes made for sharing, and warm, consistent service.”