Saarc taste buds: Modi enjoys frugal vegetarian meals, halal meat, fish for Sharif

Kathmandu: It is a simple vegetarian spread “with less spices and oil” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi while his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif is having halal meat dishes during their stay in Nepal for the Saarc Summit. Hotel Crowne Plaza Kathmandu-Soaltee, where the Saarc leaders including Sharif and Modi are staying for the two-day Summit, has taken special care of the tastes and preferences of the visiting leaders.[caption id=“attachment_1822951” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Image courtesy PIB[/caption] “Modi is having simple vegetarian food with less spices and less oil, while for Sharif halal meat dishes are prepared,” a hotel staff involved in preparing the cuisines said. In lunch, Modi takes jeera rice with dal and two types of vegetables besides tawa roti and vegetable soup. He also takes plain curd and masala chaas with his food. “Instructions have been given to make the dishes less oily and less spicy with less use of paneer,” he said. In dinner, the prime minister prefers khichadi with Gujrati curry, dal and roti, while for dessert, he takes mixed fruit. For breakfast, he takes mixed fruits, utappam or idli and digestive biscuits along with tea. For Pakistani Premier Sharif, halal meats are prepared. He also prefers fish in special Pakistani preparation and takes organic chicken or mutton in lunch and dinner. For dessert, he prefers saffron kheer. Modi has been provided executive suite in the hotel’s main building while Sharif is staying in real suite in a separate bungalow built in the premises of the hotel along with all other Saarc dignitaries. PTI