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.)
