MARLA'S CARIBBEAN CUISINE

3761 Bloomington Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612.724.3088

Take out available!

CLOSED MONDAY
Tuesday-Thursday
11:30am-8:00pm
Friday-Saturday
11:30am-9:00pm
Sunday
11:30am-8:00pm

Marla Jadoonanan and her husband Ian bought Natraj Indian Kitchen at the corner of Lake St. and Emerson Ave. on August 1 and re-christened it Marla's Indian and Caribbean Cuisine. Marla, friendly, warm and enthusiastic, clearly loves running her new restaurant.

Marla has kept Natraj's Indian menu and added authentic Carribbean dishes that her family enjoys. She's also added some vegetarian Indian items and some items that are a fusion of the two cuisines. She also plans to add daily or weekly specials.

Marla has no previous restaurant experience except for helping her brother Harry Singh in his restaurant (his Caribbean restaurant is located on Nicollet near 27th St). But she loves cooking. She considers her brother her mentor. Marla's current kitchen collaborator is Tamkalawan (Moises) Singh, the former Natraj chef.

Marla worked as a nurse for 18 years at Fairview hospital, from which she resigned recently. Now she's at the restaurant most of the time--12 hours a day, six days a week.

Her husband comes in evenings after his day job. "This is what I love," Marla explains, "both the front of the house and kitchen. How do you explain that? Nirvana? It's like being a new mother. I wake up ready to go. And my kids are very understanding." Her 13 and 16-year-old children work in the restaurant on Saturdays. "I need their help and they do a wonderful job," says Marla.

Marla grew up in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago. At 15 she moved to Minnesota to join her two brothers. "From Indian, Creole and Latin flavors to Minnesota blah," she laughs. Her husband Ian came from Trinidad 18 years ago.

Marla notes that combining Indian and Caribbean cuisines is a unique restaurant concept. Many parts of the Caribbean have a large Indian population, however. They were brought by the British as indentured workers to work the fields after the slave trade stopped.

Marla has spiffed up the restaurant's interior by installing new carpeting, drapery, and table covers. There are also new interior murals to add a Caribbean flavor to the existing Indian murals. The exterior of the building was recently painted and in the future will sport murals as well.

From marlascuisine.com

MENU

Ask about our new daily specials!

Appetizers
Doubles ( curried channa between two fry bara ) $2
Poulories ( Lightly spiced gram flour then deep fried) $2
Jerk chicken wings $8
Fried chicken wings $8
Jamaican Beef Patties $3
Coco Bread $2
Hummus ( Marla's special blend of garbanzo beans, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice) $4

Sides/Dessert
Dhal $3
Lentils $3
French Fries $3
Plantains $3
Sweet Potato Pie $3

Jamaican Jerk
Jerking is a traditional style of barbeque, served with red beans & rice.
Jamaican Jerk Chicken $10
Jamaican Jerk Shrimp $12
Jamaican Jerk Fish Fillet $12
Jamaican Jerk Fish Whole $15
Jamaican Jerk Tofu $8
Jamaican Jerk Veggies $8

Caribbean Style Fried Rice
Rice, Vegetables and an array of Carib-Asian spices sautéed together.
Vegetarian Fried Rice $8
Chicken Fried Rice $10
Beef Fried Rice $12
Shrimp Fried Rice $12

Caribbean Chowmein
Julianne cut vegetables mixed with cooked noodles and Carib-Asian spices.
Brought to the Caribbean by the Chinese immigrants.
Vegetarian Chowmein $8
Chicken Chowmein $10
Beef Chowmein $12
Fish Chowmein $12
Shrimp Chowmein $12

Caribbean Stew or Brown Down
Meats or vegetables cooked in a pleasantly sweet caramelized sauce which produces a rich golden color and great flavor. Served with white rice. Red beans and rice (1$) extra.
Vegetables A medley of fresh vegetables cooked to perfection. $8
Tofu $8
Chicken $10
Beef $11
Shrimp $12
Whole Fish $15
Fish ( Fillet ) $12
Oxtail $12

Salads
Fresh greens and vegetables topped off with citrus dressing $7
Add jerk chicken $10
Add jerk shrimp/fish $12

Roti Wrap
An absolute Island favorite!
Dhalpourie: A soft flatbread filled with finely ground yellow split peas cooked on a tawa, the wrapped burrito style with your choice of filling. Introduced in 1800s by our forefathers from India.
Paratha or buss-up-shut: A soft, flaky roti served with one of your choices below

Caribbean Curry Potato $8
Caribbean Curry Potato and Channa $8
Caribbean Curry Vegetables $8
Caribbean Curry Tofu $8
Caribbean Curry Chicken $9
Caribbean Curry Shrimp $11
Caribbean Curry Beef $11
Caribbean Curry Goat $11
Jamaican Jerk Chicken $10
Jamaican Jerk Shrimp $12
Jamaican Jerk Fish $12
Jamaican Jerk Veggies $8
Jamaican Jerk Tofu $8
Brown Down Veggies $8
Brown Down Tofu $8
Brown Down Chicken $10
Brown Down Beef $12
Brown Down Shrimp $12
Brown Down Fish $12

Hamburger w/ Fries $6.95

Caribbean Favorites

Cassava/Yucca
Served with your choice of:
Salted Cod Fish and Tomatoes $8
Stew Chicken $10
Stew Beef $12
Stew Shrimp $12
Stew Fish $12

Dumplings
( Fried or boiled ) Served with your choice of Stew or Curry:
Chicken $10
Beef $12
Fish $12
Shrimp $12
Salted Cod Fish and Tomatoes $8

Callalloo
An Island Favorite! Okra, spinach, crab, coconut milk, and more spices cooked for hours to create a delicious concoction of mouth teasing flavors. Served over white rice. $12
Choice of:
Chicken Fish Shrimp Tofu Beef

Pelau
Rice and pigeon (gungo) peas, stewed to perfection with coconut milk and spices.
Introduced by our forefathers from India.
Vegetarian $8
Chicken Pelau $10
Beef Pelau $12
Shrimp Pelau $12
Fish Pelau $12

Caribbean Curry
A special blend of exotic spices cooked to perfection to create a robust flavor.
Served with red beans and rice or white rice.
Vegetables $8
Chana and Potato $8
Chicken $10
Shrimp $12
Whole Fish $15
Fish (fillet) $12
Goat (bones in) $12
Beef $12

Ackee and Saltfish
Served with cassava and plantains $15

Special Orders!
Souse
Rum Cake
Fish Soup
Large Quanitity
Roti
Doubles

And much more!

Drinks
Ting ( grapefruit flavored soda ) $2.50
Gingerbeer ( ginger flavored soda ) $2.50
Kola Champagne Soda ( a very unique flavor ) $2.50
Pineapple soda ( tastes like a pineapple! ) $2.50
Fruit Punch soda ( a medley of tropical fruits ) $2.50
Orange soda $2.50
Sorrel ( made from Jamaica flower, has a lovely cinnamon flavor - non-carbonated )$2.50
Mauby ( made from the bark of a tropical tree, has a licorice taste - non-carbonated )$2.50
Soursop ( a tropical fruit mixed with milk and sweet spices - non-carbonated ) $2.50
Peanut Punch( an amazing drink of sweet spices, peanuts, and milk - non-carbonated ) $2.50
Milk $1.99
Soda ( Coke, diet coke, Sprite, Fanta Orange ) $1.25