And is it smart diplomacy to send our foreign guests home on an empty stomach? At the Seychelles president’s dinner, the main course was simply potatoes cooked Gujarati style, roasted brinjals, spiced paneer and mushrooms. Nixon was to compare the spartan Indian meal most unfavourably with the lavish spreads laid out for him in Pakistan. It is pertinent to point out that normally foreign governments courteously offer vegetarian options for Indian guests, but also keep the tastes of other diners in mind. As the old proverb goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.

Source: Indian Express February 22, 2026 07:03 UTC