day Indian food festival organized by the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, featuring an array of all-authentic delicacies from different regions of India, concluded at Elaf Jeddah Hotel at Red Sea Mall, Saturday. The festival, attended by the staff of the Indian Consulate General, Air India, businessmen, hotel managers and mediamen, was a part of the celebrations that marked India's 63rd Republic Day. Three renowned chefs —Kirti Rastogi (specialist in Awadhi and North-West Frontier cuisine), GP Ayichthu (expert in preparing delectable south Indian fare) and Raju Chauhan (expert in north Indian food like curry and tandoor dishes) —demonstrated their culinary skills much to the delight of the visitors who had thronged the festival from every nook and corner of the city. “The festival offers a great opportunity for the Indian expatriates to enjoy the traditional delicacies that are cooked using the traditional recipes,”Shakeel Ahmad, Consul, Culture and Commercial, CGI, Jeddah, told the Saudi Gazette. “These special recipes provide a great opportunity to discover and taste the delicacies of Indians.” To blend it with the local theme, a fine-art gallery of paintings by an Indian artist which included an image of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and many other paintings depicting Arab culture, was a part of the festival. By the end of the evening, a raffle draw was organized among the guests and gifts were distributed. It included a return air ticket between Jeddah and any Indian city and one-night free stay at Elaf Jeddah Hotel. — SG __
