Vegetarian president brings own cooks to China
May 29th, 2010 - 1:24 pm ICT by IANS
By Kavita Bajeli-Datt
Beijing, May 29 (IANS) President Pratibha Patil, a vegetarian, has flown in her own cooks for her six-day China visit, fully aware that she was visiting a nation known for a cuisine that is primarily non-vegetarian and where gourmet dishes are whipped out of many animal, bird and fish species.
In fact, the president who attended a sumptuous state banquet Thursday given by her Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of People bypassed the non-vegetarian dishes and tucked into a meal which included a special dish of white gourd.
Officials said Patil, who is staying in the majestic Hotel Raffles Beijing, has a huge suite which has a big kitchen, with separate entry for staff members. Patil is in China on a six-day visit that is taking her to Beijing, Luoyang and Shanghai.
“She is a simple eater. And likes her dal, rice and one vegetable. Her chef knows her liking,” an official told IANS, not wishing to be identified as he was not supposed to talk to the media.
Not only chefs Laxman Rai and Dheeraj Mani Bhatt are taking care of the president’s needs, but also her husband Devisingh Ramsingh Shekhawat, son-in-law Jayesh Rathore and grandson Dhruvesh Rathor who are accompanying her in the visit.
As Chinese dining etiquettes demand that guests do not decline any food that is served to them, Chinese authorities were informed about the president’s preferences in advance. “She was not offered any non-vegetarian fare (at the state banquet),” said the official.
A huge steel box labelled with bold letters “grocery” was flown to China. In fact, it was one of the few things that were loaded first in the special aircraft Air India One in which the president and her entourage travelled.
“We are carrying everything for the journey. We know her choices so we have packed everything. We wanted to be fully prepared,” the official told IANS.
Chinese banquets typically serve about ten courses that include food cooked from animal, fish or bird anatomy.
(Kavita Bajeli-Datt can be contacted at kavita.d@ians.in)
- India to 'deepen' ties with China, Patil says - May 28, 2010
- President Patil sticks to veggie fare at Chinese banquet - May 27, 2010
- Tagore's bust unveiled in Shanghai - May 30, 2010
- President Patil invites Kotnis' sister to Beijing - May 28, 2010
- China to establish Tagore gallery in Kolkata - May 28, 2010
- President Patil visits Forbidden City - May 28, 2010
- China 'understands' India, but offers no support for UNSC seat - May 27, 2010
- China warms up to Patil, but no support for India's UN bid (Overall Lead) - May 27, 2010
- Chinese throng to see Indian classical dances - May 31, 2010
- Indian president meets Chinese premier - May 27, 2010
- Patil got Chinese names written in Devnagari - May 30, 2010
- Tagore plaques in China shine again thanks to Patil - Jun 03, 2010
- India, China should take care of each other's concerns: Patil - May 31, 2010
- China raises Tibet issue, wants Indian 'reassurance' - May 28, 2010
- Visa free travel for Chinese, Indian airline staff (Lead) - May 27, 2010
Tags: air india, banquets, bird and fish, bold letters, chinese authorities, chinese counterpart, datt, dining etiquettes, fish species, gourd, gourmet dishes, hu jintao, kavita, luoyang, majestic hotel, president pratibha patil, rathore, state banquet, vegetarian dishes, vegetarian fare