Indian chef Sanjeev Kapoor prepared a five-course meal for a private dinner hosted by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia) in honour of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The first course involved the farsaan and mezzeh platter, an all vegetarian selection that included delicacies such as coconut khandavi with mango salsa, chakri, lauki kachumber and fafda chutney too.
Four other courses included the shorba, a ‘shuruaat’ or starter with contemporary take on the traditional khaman dhokla as a French millefeuille.
Those with a non-vegetarian palette relished the Murg Zatar Parmesan Tikka with curry maska brioche as their starter.
The Jumeirah Etihad Towers venue, which, in the recent past, has hosted Hollywood glitterati that filmed ‘Furious 7’ on its premises, set a perfect backdrop to the Abu Dhabi skyline as course after course was served on this Indo-Arab menu, including a Royal Gujarati thali and a 100-karat gold dessert.
Modi, who is vegetarian, was served traditional Gujarati fare during the course of the meal, with a few samplers of local Arabic favourites such as Beiruti hummus, fatoush and grilled halloumi.
The grand finale was the ‘mishthaan’ course with a 100-karat gold Amarkhand, Platimum, with pebbles and fresh cut fruits.