Rude Food by Vir Sanghvi: How the G20 menu wowed the world

State dinners across the world serve boring food. But ITC’s chefs set a new standard at the G20 Summit, with an inventive vegetarian menu and impeccable service

There was a time in my life when I used to have to attend state banquets in various countries. Some of them were fun. I got to sit next to interesting people and when I was attending banquets abroad, I gained rare insights into the country I was visiting because high-powered guests at my table often spoke candidly and indiscreetly.

At the G20 Summit, guests were served vegetarian dishes such as foxtail millet leaf crisps topped with a yoghurt sphere and spiced chutney.

Another hit at the G20 Summit: Cardamom scented barnyard millet pudding with an ambemohar rice crisp.

The dinner menu included paan flavoured chocolate leaves.

The dinner menu.

Chef Manisha Bhasin conceptualised many of the new all-veg dishes for the G20.

ITC prepared not just the state dinner but even the meal packs given to the attendants and security staff.