This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Banana Leaf, Utah's first restaurant that specializes in the foods of Singapore and Sri Lanka, will open next week in Provo. The restaurant is planning a ribbon cutting on Sept. 30 at noon.
Jet Selvaratnam's parents own a restaurant in Sri Lanka and he and his brother plan to use some of those same family recipes at their Utah establishment, said Jet's wife, Ariana Selvaratnam.
The food will be similar to what is found in India and other South East Asian countries. There will be "lots of rice" and coconut curries as well as chicken, beef and "amazing" seafood dishes, Selvaratnam said. Common spices include turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and masala. Prices will range from $7 to $22.
Meals in Sri Lanka are traditionally served on banana leaves — not plates — and food is eaten with your hands, Selvaratnam said. However, Banana Leaf isn't following those traditions exactly. The chefs will cover each plate with a banana leaf before arranging the food on top, said Selvaratnam., "And we will have forks and knifes."
Banana Leaf Restaurant • 409 N. University Ave., Provo; open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday