Clinto’s Kupmurri is the brainchild of Gold Coast local Clinton Schultz, of the Gamilaraay people, who is bringing traditional Aboriginal kupmurri to the streets after decades of working as a chef in top kitchens throughout Australia and Europe. For those not entirely familiar, ‘kupmurri’ is the traditional style of cooking a ceremonial feast underground, similar to a Maori hangi, where native ingredients and game meats are wrapped and cooked in paperbark to create a truly unique smoky flavour. Obviously commercial regulations don’t permit the service of food that’s cooked in the ground (dang!), but luckily Clinton has developed contemporary methods to replicate the same flavours, textures and aromas of a traditional kupmurri to be able to bring it to the streets and share the uniqueness of Aboriginal food with the masses.

The menu will feature the likes of kangaroo, emu and crocodile meats in dishes such as curries, stews, pies, skewers and stir-frys. The dishes are infused with native ingredients like lemon myrtle, finger limes, wattleseed, macadamia and pepperberry as well as saltbush, a plant that is commonly found along the foreshores, which used as a replacement for sea salt. Clinto’s signature coleslaw features a salty sea vegetable called samphire, known as the asparagus of the sea, and you’ll also find warrigal greens (the original native Australian spinach) throughout the menu. Now, a lot of these ingredients are not commercially farmed like your everyday fresh produce, so they aren’t cheap, but the flavours are second to none. Clinto’s menu emits a health-conscious vibe, with dishes that are highlighted by the ingredient’s medicinal properties and high concentration of vitamins and minerals. For those wondering about the sweets (we were), you’ll be able to finish on a high note with organic wattleseed damper rolls with rosella and plum jam, wattleseed and native honey milk-puddings topped with honeycomb crumble, and sticky fig puddings with turmeric and cinnamon butterscotch. We’ll keep you posted on Clinto’s Kupmurri’s first Gold Coast appearance.

Update: Clinto’s Kupmurri will officially launch on Sunday April 16 (Easter Sunday) at The Village Markets!

For details, head over to our Stumble Guide.