Celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur pulled out all the stops with a carefully thought out ‘Satvik menu’ for Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi at a National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) event at The Leela, Bangalore today. The event was hosted by PM Modi to discuss the role of technology and innovation in manufacturing and IT services for the government's 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' initiatives. The event was expected to have dignitaries including Ms. Angela Merkel - German Chancellor, Mr. Sunil Mittal - Founder & Chairman Bharti Enterprises, Mr. Azim Premji - Chairman of Wipro Limited and many more renowned industrialists from across the world. As an ode to PM Modi’s Make in India campaign, Chef Kapur presented a delightful culinary theatre of India with a focus on South Indian cuisine and Satvik food – that is freshly cooked, vegetarian and prepared with naturally sourced ingredients.
Talking about his experience and the menu, Chef Kunal Kapur, Executive Sous Chef, The Leela Group said, “It was an honor to cook for PM Modi ji & other dignitaries at the NASSCOM event. With PM’s effort to bring India together through his Digital India campaign, the team also tried to bring this alive through a culinary fare, thereby bringing food from across the country at the same platform. In accordance with Mr. Modi’s preference, we presented him home style food cooked with authentic and simple recipes to keep the meal light, healthy and delectable”. A few of Chef’s dishes were inspired from his recipe book ‘A Chef In Every Home’. He presented an exceptional homemade Mango and Chilli Pickle and a Chundo for Prime Minister Modi. The menu was well appreciated as it was well-balanced and wholesome. It consisted of a healthy welcome drink ‘Sambharam’ which is a spiced buttermilk flavored with lemongrass.
It also included a variety of vegetarian starters with the most unique being the “Murungaelai Adai”, (Drumstick leaf pancake) - The dish is high on fiber and has a very unique taste when coupled with Chef Kapur’s homemade pickles including “Mahali” (a traditional Tamil Brahmin pickle made of roots possessing a unique smell of vanilla and cinnamon) and Vazhapoo Vada (Banana blossom fitters) is high on potassium and tastes best when served steaming hot out of the pan with fresh coconut chutney. Chef Kapur has been instrumental in designing and training German Chefs to serve food on-board for Lufthansa First and Business class for the last 4 years; this experience has given him an in-depth understanding of the German palette which was very useful while preparing food for the German dignitaries at the event. The Chef and his team were well appreciated by the Ministry as well as the German delegation for a well-thought-of menu, seamless execution and detail to perfection.