Warm up with dinner and a show at The Rep’s Mrs. Krishnan’s Party or the STL Food & Wine Experience

by Suzanne Corbett, Food/Travel Editor

If you’re looking to find a place to warm up and party, Mrs. Krishnan is throwing a party.

The Rep’s production of Mrs. Krishnan’s Party has become hottest theatre experience this winter for theater loving foodies. A unique and immersive experience that folds the concept of staging a dinner within a show.

Presented at the Emerson Studio at the Loretto-Hilton Center on the campus of Webster University, Mrs. Krishnan Party by New Zealand’s celebrated Indian Ink Theatre Company revolves around food simmering on the stove with music filling the air as Mrs. Krishnan’s Party unfolds. Best yet, what’s on the menu is audience participation – becoming part of the party sharing laughter, stories, and a taste of dahl, a traditional Indian dish of savory spiced red lentils.  A  theatrical recipe, which depending on who’s stirring the pot, yields a different take – just like each performance.

This interactive theatrical event is a heartfelt celebration of community, culture, and connection. What begins as a small gathering quickly transforms into a vibrant celebration when dozens of unexpected guests (including the audience) arrive. Resulting in a show that offers a fresh, immersive adventure that blurs the line between performer and guest. It’s a theatre loving foodie’s dream. No wonder extra performances have been added to the run, which ends February 8.

“We’re thrilled to bring Mrs. Krishnan’s Party to The Rep,” said Justin Lewis, show co-creator and Director. “This show breaks the fourth wall, the fifth wall, and probably a few rules—all in the name of joy, connection, and an almighty good time. It’s not every day that the theater serves food for the belly and the soul.  I mean, where else can you experience heart-in-your-mouth storytelling and dancing on tables in the same night?”

Tickets are available at visit at The Rep. Rush tickets are available for students, seniors, educators, and theatre professionals by calling  the Box Office at 314-968-4925, 1 – 2 hours prior to curtain time. To whet your appetite for the show, the production cast has shared Mrs. Krishnan’s Party recipe for Dahl, which is feature in the performance.  Dahl is a staple of South Asian cuisine. It’s quick and easy to make, and every household has its own recipe.

Mrs. Krishnan’s Party Dahl

1 cup red lentils

2 cups water

3 chopped tomatoes or a 16-ounce canned tomatoes

2 cloves garlic

1 small onion, chopped

1 tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon cumin powder

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon garam masala

1 dried chili pepper or 1 teaspoon red chili flakes

salt and white pepper to taste

White vinegar and butter, optional

Fresh cilantro for garnish

Combine lentils, water, tomatoes and whole garlic cloves that have been bruised (gently smashed under a knife blade) into a large pot simmer till lentils are soft. Takes about  ten minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.

While lentils are cooking, heat oil in a frying pan, add onions and sauté till translucent. Add all the spices except white pepper and salt to the onions and stir for a minute. Add the onion spice mixture to the lentils and simmer for five minutes. Add salt and white pepper to taste. For extra flavor stir in a dash of white vinegar and a few tablespoons of butter. Sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander. Serve with boiled/steamed rice.

Serves 10

St. Louis Food and Wine Experience February 6 -7

Another winter tradition anticipated as much as the Card’s Winter Warm Up among Cardinal fans who are foodies and self-acclaimed gourmets is the St. Louis Food and Wine Experience. A benefit for The Rep, is presented by Schnucks with Operation Food Search as its community partner.  The two-day festival, which began in 2002, will be held February 6 and 7 at Saint Louis Union Station. Each ticket provides attendees the opportunity to enjoy an incredible food, wine and beverage experience while supporting The Rep’s work on and beyond the stage by bringing theatre to classrooms and community spaces.

The St. Louis Food and Wine experience features artisan food and wine tastings, sparkling wine tutorials led by top winemakers, and live performances by St. Louis artists throughout the day. New to this year’s event, a speakeasy that features samplings of crafted cocktails created by renowned mixologist Dean Serneels, paired with tasty small bites from Schnucks Cooking School.

Saint Louis Food and Wine main event, VIP experience, and designated driver tickets are available purchased here.