— Our Story —

Our Culinary Team

Teena Arora
Founder and Chef de Cuisine

Deven Arora-Phraviseth
Executive Chef

Tony Dietz
Guest Chef

Bruno Ponsot
Guest Chef

Cooking is In my DNA - I’m an vegetarian enthusiast & Unapologetic Curry Lover
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Hi Foodie and Cooking Lovers! My name is Chef Teena Arora. My parents immigrated from India to the States when I was a toddler. My upbringing was spent in the kitchen at my family owned and operated Steakhouse, American roadside, and Indian restaurants in the Midwest from the mid-70s thru the early 90s. Over the span of 25+ years, I was able to demonstrate and hone a multitude of skills in the food industry, but most notably Culinary Instruction & Education.

But my story long story short, Currysutra® was not conceived until the mid 90s. I have dedicated to sharing my knowledge & obsession of plant based foods, and the medicinal benefits of Indian spices. I am also crazy about mindful, healthy & intrigued with Ayurvedic cooking. For more information about my culinary passion & beloved child, visit the Currysutra page here. When I’m not in the kitchen, I enjoy boot-camp, cycling and yoga, globetrotting, watching The Ellen Degeneres Show, music concerts, dining out, entertaining, and spending time with family & friends.

In 2016, I embarked on a new adventure. In partnership with Atherton Appliance & Kitchens, I began to offer an exquisite, one-of-a-kind culinary program named, Explore Culinary Arts with infinite passion, love, and warmth. We taught Indian, Italian, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, plus pastry workshops. We sure had a ton of fun, so many fond memories and repeat clients! It was four years in the making, like-minded passionate, trained, and talented chefs alongside myself were front & center in this unique culinary experience until March 2020 when our world changed and paused our cooking events due to Covid-19. My team (my staff is amazing!) and I had to close our operation due to SIP orders. Then, we face a challenge of social distancing in the kitchen. So, that left me with one choice, do I let the coronavirus infect my passion and desire to teach cooking or do I pivot my business as I trusted wise friend told me, and find “new cheese”? That is exactly what I intended to do. So, I am happy to announce that until we can resume some sort of normalcy, we began to offer online cooking classes as of June 1, 2020 as well as Sweets with a partnership with two bakeries/confectioneries and two French patisseries. The product offering includes French pastries, macarons, DIY cookie kits, cake pops, cupcakes, pies, tarts, petit fours, hot cocoa bombs and lots more!
P.S. And, if you would like to support us, we do have a gofundme campaign to raise funds for our new initiatives. You can visit this link here

I encourage and invite you all to gather, create and taste what sets my chef team apart in the industry. Enjoy an educational, intimate, relaxed, and delicious experience via the comforts of your own home kitchen. Inquire within about our corporate team building, public cooking classes, special occasion events (birthdays, girl’s happy hour, taco Tuesday, etc.), including kid’s summer culinary camps.

I’d love to make meals and memories in the kitchen and cook together with you together (apart)! So, for the love of curry, are you ready to learn & let your inner Indian out?

Summer 2021 UPDATE:
Sadly, our time with Atherton Appliance & Kitchens has come to the end of it’s journey as of June 2021. We will always hold close to heart fond memories of cooking in their stunning state of the art live kitchen space. It was an honor to have been able to collaborate and build the business. It’s just a good-bye for now as I am sure our paths will cross again. As bitter sweet as this is, we were fortunate enough to quickly partner with another appliance storefront and are currently offering cooking classes as of July 2021. We invite you to safely cook with us and rebuild rapports and connections with teams. We are also open to private & family events. Everyone and anyone is welcome to cook and dine at our table! Hope to see you soon as we continue to navigate through these pandemic times. Stay healthy & happy cooking! ~ Chef T.

FAST FORWARD to June 2022!
Mid 2021 to May 2022 was quite a challenge. We tried to keep the momentum of offering cooking classes but encountered some ups and downs securing a new space. But my tenacious + tireless drive did not disappoint. June of this year was a Godsend! Through a great friend, I crossed paths with an amazing outstanding remarkable non-profit not to far from my own backyard in Redwood City, LEMO FOUNDATION. This group of folks are like no other. Mission and compassion driven. They help children to explore their talents, hone their creative energies and while creating a safe and fun place. They are also quite fond of women entrepreneurs especially, and dedicated to helping them accomplish big dreams. I am FOREVER indebted to the LORD for bringing them into my life and world. We are like minded individuals who love food, people, being of service, manifesting dreams, and so much more. I CAN’T wait to see how it all unfolds. There’s a divine hand in our new partnership no doubt and I’m so grateful for that. V.Lee, thank you for being my guiding angel!!!!!

9/23/2022 - Stay tuned, as “Teena’s kitchen” disrupts the culinary world. We are going to be on the MAP!
Xx, Chef T

HOLIDAY SEASON UPDATE 2022:
I had the pleasure of showcasing and sharing out most sought out crowd pleasing appetizer (Roasted Grape Crostini) on November 16, 2022 via a cooking segment on NBC’s California Live with host Blanche Shaheen. Check it out here! Many thanks to Lemo Foundation and the crew at NBC California Live Bay Area!
December rings in a large scale corporate event at google with holiday cooking decorating. A huge shoutout to my amazing baker! Check out pictures of all the creative designs on Instagram @currysutra the week of December 5, 2022
Happy Cooking + Holidays everyone!

January 2023 - Happy New Year to you all! Join me in the Heart of the Home as we ring in the New Year with delicious, healing, empowering foods and recipes. I offer corporate team building culinary experiences, cooking classes, virtual workshops, hand crated + small batch spice, salt and sugar blends, catering and private chef services. I look forward to being of service in 2023!

January 24, 2023 - I am over the moon and humbled to be invited back for a guest appearance on California Live to showcase another recipe, this time around an Indian dish. It’s called Besan Chila, a savory chickpea flour veggie and lightly spiced pancake. Here’s a link to the cooking segment to watch me in action! https://www.nbclosangeles.com/california-live/chickpea-pancakes/3080739/ It was so much fun and delish! A huge shoutout to Atherton Appliance & Kitchens for letting me cook in their beautiful space.

July 2023 - My high school classmate and I traveled to Korea and Japan for the first time. The impetus for the trip was a milestone birthday as I am now officially part of the 50’s club! I have to say that the experience was an interesting one, to say the least. Vegetarian friendly food was such a challenge! It was fun renting a car and driving in Japan, a bold move that many have voiced! Highlights of the trip - a cooking class in Seoul where I learned to make Japchae, visiting my friends birth mom in Gimhae, visiting a home composter kitchen appliance factory (Reencle) also in Gimhae, seeing the dog statue of Hachiko at Shibuyu Train station in Tokyo, dinner with my Japanese girlfriends (N&N), climbing a bit of Mt. Fuji, the deer park in Nara and visiting the storefront of new culinary partner of chef knives, kikuichi, walking part of philosophers path in Kyoto. Unfortunately, I contracted heat exhaustion and a cough in Osaka at the tail end of our journey. All in all, I am grateful for the experience, but home sweet home!

Fall 2023 - It’s an exciting time and cooking is still “sexy”. But now, we also offer a sports team building add-on in partnership with LEMO. Corporate clients can opt for RC speedway, Ping Pong, Volleyball, Bocce Ball, Basketball, and Pickelball competitions with a catering aspect. Please email me to inquire about our packages.

Press + Accolades

California Live, February 23, 2024
Featured Recipe with show host; Learn to make drool-worthy canapes like a professional chef
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/california-live/california-live-correspondent-blanche-shaheen-learns-how-to-make-mouthwatering-bite-sized-snacks-perfect-for-your-galentines-or-valentines-day-menu-chef-teena-of-atherton-applianc/3319948/

The PILOT (rsca.org), September 2023
Featured Recipe, pg. 6

California Live, August 17, 2023
Featured Recipe with show host; Papdi Chaat, Indian style nachos
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/california-live/spice-up-your-next-party-or-potluck-with-indian-style-nachos/3208208/

California Live, April 24, 2023
Featured Recipe with show host; Indian CHAATcuterie, a snack board
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/california-live/savory-spicy-charcuterie-at-home/3141836/?amp=1

California Live, February 24, 2023
Featured Recipe with show host; Besan Chila, a savory chickpea pancake
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/california-live/chickpea-pancakes/3080739/

California Live, November 16, 2022
Featured Recipe with show host; Roasted Grape Crostini Appetizer https://www.nbclosangeles.com/california-live/a-quick-and-easy-holiday-party-appetizer/3035556/

San Carlos Living Magazine, November 2022
Featured Recipe, pg. 11

San Francisco Chronicle, November 2021
https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2021/mehko-bay-area-guide/

ABC7 news! MEHKO permitted home kitchen interview, November 2021 https://www.facebook.com/abc7news/videos/254736199860662/

San Carlos Living Magazine, May 2021
Featured Recipe, pg.

San Carlos Living Magazine, April 2020
Featured Recipe, pg. 22

Atherton Living Magazine, June 2019
Featured Recipe

Palo Alto Online, March 2018
Featured Company

Mountain View Voice, March 2018
Featured Company

The Pilot Newsletter, Jan.-March 2017, Dec. 2016
Featured Recipes

Taste & Travel Adventure Show Bay Area, 2015
Featured Guest Chef