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National Capital is all decked up to host the G20 Summit 2023 at the newly built Bharat Mandapan Convention Centre in Delhi’s Pragati Maidan area. Dignitaries and leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are likely to attend this landmark event preparations for which are being at war footing.
Apart from the security arrangements and cultural programmes, special emphasis is being paid to food. International Year of Millets 2023, a proposal sponsored by the Indian government and accepted by the United Nations General Assembly, has been championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a vision to make IYM 2023, a global movement. Millets are ancient grains that are staples of people residing across Asia and Africa. Keeping the objective in mind, major hotels in the National Capital region will put millets at the center of their menus during delegate lunches and dinners.
Video credits: Sanjeev Kapoor Khazana
As per a report by PTI, the delegates expected to attend the G20 summit in Delhi will be served the authentic Indian street food, including delicacies from Chandni Chowk along with fusion dishes made from millets. While talking to PTI, G20 India’s Special Secretary Muktesh Pardeshi told that over 10,000 delegates are expected to visit the National Capital and they will be introduced to the amazing street food of the country. He added, “Yes, in some innovative manner, there would be an introduction to street food, and local and regional cuisines of India. The chefs are working overtime to finalize the menu, keeping all aspects in mind. But certainly, there will be some exposure”.
Muktesh said "Delhi is very well known for its street food, particularly the Chandni Chowk area. So, when you visit our international media center, I am sure you will also get a taste of the street food of India," he said. He added that all hotels where world leaders and delegates will be staying, are leaving no stone unturned to come up with innovative millet-based dishes. PTI also stated that millets will take the center-stage in not just one but different ways like appetizers, salads, main course dishes and also desserts.
As per reports, around 20 leaders as well as their spouses are likely to visit on 9th September. They will learn about India's rich agricultural heritage and taste a full-course millet-based feast prepared by celebrity chefs including Ajay Chopra, Kunal Kapur and Anahita Dhondy. Besides, Kusha Mathur and Nikita Mehra from the ITC group will also help the chefs in preparing the millet-based menu for the dignitaries at the live cooking area.
In an interview to PTI, Muktesh Pardeshi said "For world leaders, the prime minister is conscious of the fact that the gift should connect and convey a sense of warmth. We have submitted a list of items, whether they are paintings or handicraft items or carpets-they will be chosen with all care and respect to the visiting dignitary”. He said that their approach is that the gifts should convey a message about India’s rich handicraft traditions and culture. When leaders carry an item, they should carry the memory of India," he added.
