How time flies: Chef and caterer Heather Jansz, the self-proclaimed Curry Diva, has been cooking in the Twin Cities for 40 years.

Her work at the former Sri Lanka Curry House (and, before that, the Mulligan Stew House) in Minneapolis and the Curry Leaf Deli in St. Paul garnered her countless faithful customers, and a long and valuable list of e-mail contacts.

That fan base is filling the seats at the pop-up restaurant she operates at tiny Our Kitchen (813 W. 36th St., Mpls.) on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Jansz and her friendly serving crew preside over a super-casual, ever-changing, multicourse family-style dinner after Our Kitchen owner Danny Ziegler calls it quits on his breakfast-and-lunch operation.

At $18 per person (plus tax and tip), Jansz's dinner is a bit of a steal. Beverages (juices) and roti are available for nominal add-on fees. Oh, and plan ahead: It's a cash-only operation.

It's also a tight fit, just 18 seats in two fast-paced seatings (6:30 and 7:45 p.m.), and reservations are required; call 612-250-6556, or sign up to her mailing list at thecurrydiva.com.

When I dropped in last week, the meal included red lentils simmered in turmeric, coconut milk and Jansz's curry spice blend; a slow-cooked beef stew redolent of clove and cinnamon; a crunchy kale salad dancing with tahini; tender chicken perfumed with garam masala; potatoes cooked with fragrant smoked chiles; hot-off-the-griddle roti, and more.

"It's organized to activate all six senses," said Jansz. "Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. The body doesn't lack for anything."

(Jansz makes accommodations for vegetarians, and most of her fare is dairy-free and gluten-free.)

As for Our Kitchen, the hash-browns house is marking its 75th anniversary this year. Ziegler's grandfather bought the place in 1970. Ziegler started working there in 1986 and purchased it in 1992.

Jansz and Ziegler met through a mutual friend, and theirs is a win-win situation: He becomes a landlord and extends the use of his daytime facility, and she gains access to a restaurant venue, minus the duties and responsibilities of ownership.

Jansz does invest in a few atmosphere-inducing fixes. She pitched in on the cost of adding a dimmer switch to the daytime-bright overhead lights, and temporarily decorates the windows with fabric from saris.

"That way, it's no longer the diner, it's the little Curry Diva," she said with a laugh.

Keep an eye on her website. Plans for the future include all-roti meals and, in a nod to the Our Kitchen surroundings, a Sri Lankan breakfast-for-dinner spread.

Back in business

After an 18-month closure, historic Pracna on Main (117 SE. Main St., Mpls.) has reopened.

Finding food trucks

Food truck fans can connect with 90-plus mobile vendors at a handy, easy-to-navigate source: the Star Tribune's food truck Twitter list. Find it at strib.mn/foodtrucks.

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