By IANS
New Delhi : Tomato rasam and drumstick sambar – the endearing simplicity of the man about to leave Rashtrapati Bhavan with two suitcases was demonstrated through his choice of food at the farewell dinner hosted by the prime minister here Monday.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam also likes appam and vegetable stew. Officials of the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) know that, and they ensured there was plenty on the Hyderabad House banquet table, along with a variety of pickles – from ginger to palmyrah fruit.
"We wanted to make it a memorable dinner for the president and we have ensured he is served the best of dishes," the ITDC official in charge of catering Monday evening told IANS.
The cabinet colleagues of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were present. The ITDC chefs also made a variety of Mughlai and Punjabi dishes, highlighted by Nargisi kofta – meatballs stuffed with eggs.
Awadh Muzaffar – a vermicelli-based sweet dish – rounded off the farewell dinner for perhaps the best-loved president in recent memory.