The BRICS Summit 2026, hosted by India in New Delhi, has drawn attention for many reasons- including its controversial menu. A revelation of the dishes served to global dignitaries and world leaders at the summit has become a sharp point of contention and debate in the country due to the decision to serve only vegetarian dishes.
The issue has now drawn a response from Iceland's former President, Olafur Ragnar Grimmson, as well who took to social media to share an anecdote regarding his experience with an Indian leader and all-vegetarian menu.
Iceland's former president chips in on BRICS menu debate
In response to a social media post explaining the “carefully curated ingredients” of the BRICS menu, Grimmson revealed that during his time as the Nordic country's president, he too hosted then Indian president APJ Abdul Kalam and served him an all-vegetarian menu, something that's tough to do in a meat-eating country like Iceland.
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Deep Dive
What was the reaction to the all-vegetarian menu served at the BRICS Summit?
Why did Olafur Ragnar Grimmson mention serving a vegetarian meal to President Kalam?
How did Rahul Gandhi express his views about the BRICS menu?
“When I hosted the President of #India for State Dinner on the first such visit to a #Nordic country, I also offered an all-vegetarian menu. More than 20 years ago! And in #Iceland where it is not easy to be vegetarian!!” he wrote on his social media handle.
{{/usCountry}}“When I hosted the President of #India for State Dinner on the first such visit to a #Nordic country, I also offered an all-vegetarian menu. More than 20 years ago! And in #Iceland where it is not easy to be vegetarian!!” he wrote on his social media handle.
{{/usCountry}}The post seemed to allude to a 2005 state dinner hosted for President Kalam in Iceland.
Row over all-vegetarian BRICS menu
Opposition leaders in India have targeted the Centre for their selection of an all-vegetarian diet. Avoiding any name-dropping, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took an indirect jab at the BRICS Summit menu by sharing a photo of home-cooked chole bhature with the caption, “For the record: 80% of Indians are non-vegetarian. Indian non-vegetarian food is delicious. As are my sister's chole bhature.”
Congress leader Pawan Khera replied to Gandhi's post by launching a sharp attack on BJP. “The BJP’s habit of imposing its dietary preferences on fellow Indians is already deeply problematic. Now, they have taken it a step further by imposing their own choices on dignitaries from across the world,” he wrote, along with an image of the BRICS Summit menu.
“India is a rich, diverse, multi-cuisine country, home to some of the finest non-vegetarian delicacies that people across the world relish and enjoy. So why did the Modi government choose to hide this part of India’s culture? Is it ashamed of the diversity that makes India what it is?”
BRICS Summit menu dishes
The BRICS Summit menu featured a long list of all-vegetarian dishes starting with Khandvi Mille-Feuille, a steamed gram-flour roll tempered with mustard, coconut and curry leaves, and Khumb Galouti, tender pan-grilled mushroom kebabs served with mint pearls and sheermal.
The main course featured Paneer Lababdar, Gucchi Marmik made with Himalayan morel mushrooms and asparagus, Carrot Bean Poriyal with South Indian spices and coconut, Thakkali Belle Saaru, millet pulao, beetroot raita and assorted Indian breads.
The dinner concluded with desserts including Old Delhi Fruit Cream with Jalebi and Shahtoot Phirni, a slow-cooked milk-and-rice pudding topped with mulberries and gold leaf.
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Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping remained absent at the BRICS gala dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a PTI source suggesting that he had retired back to his hotel to rest. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed too was absent at the dinner since he departed back home as soon as the summit concluded.
Several Union ministers including Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan were also present at the dinner along with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and chief ministers like Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Suvendu Adhikari (West Bengal) and Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam).