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Poppy Debuts Masala Monday May 7

Jerry Traunfeld is cooking classic Indian dishes for one night only. But if you like it, he’ll do it again.

On Masala Monday, the thalis will be traditionally Indian, rather than India-inspired. Photo via Poppy.

The latest restaurant to get in on the Monday night special menu action? That would be Poppy. On May 7, chef-owner Jerry Traunfeld and his kitchen take a one-night hiatus from his Indian-inspired thali platters do cook actual Indian food.

Traunfeld says he often cooks Indian fare at home (no surprise there), particularly dishes from cookbook authors like Julie Sahni, Suvir Saran, My Bombay Kitchen author Niloufer Ichaporia King, and actress-turned-cookbook scribe Madhur Jaffrey. The one-night menu will include some favorites from these books, represent different regions of India, and essentially be the standout Indian restaurant Traunfeld wishes he could find in Seattle.

“My kitchen is set up for it, with the tandoor and the thalis, and I think it would inspire my cooks,” says Traunfeld. Fans of Poppy, and Indian food in general, are likely to be excited about it as well. If the May 7 evening is a success, Traunfeld plans to do more of them.

The night’s menu is still taking shape, but Traunfeld is planning both regular and vegetarian thalis, each with 12 items, and each for $25 (it’s a single-person platter). The kitchen will also offer some starters and desserts. Call the restaurant for more details.











Allecia Vermillion
Allecia Vermillion
Allecia Vermillion has spent a decade at Seattle Met, arriving as food and drink editor, and expanding her role over the years. She served as the magazine’s editor in chief until moving into a newly created executive editor role in 2021. She spearheads Seattle Met’s food and drink coverage and oversees home design content. Allecia’s writing has earned her multiple journalism awards and two James Beard Award nominations over the years. A native of Portland, Oregon, Allecia began her writing life as a newspaper reporter in the Chicago suburbs before making a grateful return to the Pacific Northwest. She has an English degree from Washington University (no, the one in St. Louis) and a masters in journalism from Northwestern University. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children.