Hotshots warm to Indian food

GREATER NOIDA: When they are not racing their cars round the debutant circuit here, some of the world's fastest drivers like to tickle their senses with courses of a very different kind -Indian food. Former F1 champion Michael Schumacher, Red Bull's star driver Sebastian Vettel and even F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone have warmed the hearts of chefs at Jaypee Resort and Spa after evincing a partiality for spicy Indian fare. On Friday night, Vettel and Ecclestone spent half an hour trying out Indian dishes at Paatra, the Indian restaurantat the resort. Executive chef Shivanand Kain said Ecclestone is fond of Indian cuisine and loves crisp dishes while Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel like spicy North Indian food. "On Friday, Ecclestone had dinner with his family in Paatra and enjoyed rosemary murg tikka, achari jhinga and garlic naan while Vettel also ate almost the same dishes. But he also likes daal makhni and butter naan," Kain said. He added that almost all the drivers had tried Indian cuisine two or three times during their stay. "Schumacher has come twice to the restaurant and he likes mutton biryani, kebabs, fish tikka and naan." It has been a challenge for the chefs to render Indian dishes keeping F1 drivers' fitness in mind. Taste has to be balanced against calories, protein requirement and carbohydrate content, said Kain. "We Indians believe 'atithi devo bhava' (the guest is God), hence it is our intention to bring all key Indian dishes to the tables of drivers and other team members. A team of 100 chefs is doing its best to win the hearts of the foreigners," Kain said. On Sunday, the resort has planned Food Street, an event for the visitors in which they will be not only served Indian food but also tips on cooking, as part of the stress-busting routine. "A special barbeque will be set up in the evening to serve varieties of Indian kebabs," Kain added.  Meanwhile, Paatra will serve them the regulars - dal Paatra, murg makhni, kebabs, Amritsari chhole, guchchi murg, murg makhni, gosht and subz biryani.Explore here mexican restaurants in delhi and thai restaurants in delhi.
Source "TOI"