Every thing about FOOD TASTING TEAM | Vahrehvah :
The recent news on air everywhere is the visit of
US President Barack Obama to
India. While tracking the visit of
US President Barack Obama and its
huge fleet of 5 layered security, it reminds me of the days having worked at the 5 star hotels where there would be top notch
VVIP’s,
diplomats, State dignitaries and celebrities visiting the hotel and the
food prepared for them had to be tasted by a
team of food tasters before serving the
elite guests.
A
food taster is a person who takes the
food or
drinks to be served to confirm that it is
safe to
eat and does not contain
toxins or
poisons. This is one of the important protocols to be performed when any
VVIP’s, diplomats, State dignitary is visiting the hotel or the place he eats.
Food tasters have
several functions: The safety of the food may be determined by observing whether or not the food taster subsequently becomes ill. However, that
food tasting would not be effective against slow-acting poisons that take a long time to show any visible symptoms.
The
food taster may also be responsible for the preparation and
serving of food(as seen followed by many Royalty from
Europe and
Arab nations. The hope is that tasters will be diligent in preventing poison from being introduced into
food, in
order to
safeguard their own lives. In the event that the
target (VVIP, Dignitaries, etc.) should fall ill or die, the similar
illness or death of the taster provides evidence of deliberate poisoning. In recent times, animals such as mice have been used to detect impurities in food to be consumed by humans, such as during the
2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing, China.
For President Obama's first and much-anticipated three-day visit to India, the government created a
team of Food Tasters to follow him around to monitor his gustatory activities in
Mumbai, and to ensure that there was nothing
amiss--or poisonous. But the
taste team, made up of
doctors from
JJ Hospital, never got near the
President's food. "The
Americans had made their
own arrangements,", indicating that
President Obama has his own Tasting Team. All these exercises regarding the food and the Obama platter reminds me of the days when I had the privilege to serve the State dignitaries and the elite visitors during the
4th G-15 Summit held at
New Delhi between
28-30 March 1993.
I remember working day and night with heavy security and many officials from the health department,
food tasters, secret agents checking each and every item/ ingredients that was been used for cooking their menu. Normally when a menu for the event is decided,
fresh packets of
spices and all ingredients are been inspected and opened by the agents and officials and
food is been
cooked by the Chefs in the presence of these officials and later tasted and checked.
Food is also collected as samples and sent to the
Lab for checking. Here it is not easy for every chef to be part of the event. It’s usually the person who is experienced, has a good track record, and highly honest and confidential with a proper security clearance.
I was one of the privileged chefs that had given me pride to be part of this event while working at the
ITC Hotel The Maurya, New Delhi. I had the opportunity to be serving them for the
breakfast where we had
live food counters preparing variety of dishes like the
dosas and
omlettes etc. I cherish all those valuable moments of serving the highest ranks of States
International and
National leaders who attended the
summit.
Now the latest news that we get to hear on the
Obama visit is that the Indian
government is adding an extra layer of security to the food and in addition to the normal presidential food safety protocols, which presumably include Secret Service agent-chefs to taste test food, it is reported that an elite
team of food tasters will assist with the job. A team of
12 doctors from the
JJ Hospital have been assigned as
food tasters for the
biggest VVIP of all,
President Barrack Obama. It is also reported that the
doctors are not professional food tasters but they have on occasions tasted food for different government officials.
There has been lots of speculation on the items that are going to be served on the
Obama Platter. It is also reported that as the First lady
Mitchelle Obama is a
health food conscious there would be dishes made of
seafood like the
prawns, lobsters, smoked fish etc. The
Obama Platter is still a top secret due to security norms. I have also heard reports that White House chefs will be traveling with the President due to fear of food poisoning and ensure his food is not spiked. To get the essence and flavor of the
Bukhara food its best to eat with fingers because the special aroma and herbs used in preparing the dishes are lost when forks and knives are used.
Normally during events of this sought, the chefs are tight lipped about the menu as they are scrutinized with hawk’s eye overseeing all the culinary exercises during that period. It’s a very tedious and a stressful job for the chefs who are really under immense pressure and have to give their best in serving the most tantalizing dish with epicurean expertise carrying a passionate, placid, and calm with a big smile on their lips. Our
Indian Prime Minister has hosted an elaborate dinner for the
Obamas and many other state dignitaries serving a wide range of dishes from the Awadhi cuisine.
The
food like the
music was
Indian. The
non-vegetarian menu began with Shorba shahbano (mulagatani soups); and was followed by Jhinga dum nisha
(grilled prawns), Mahi dum anari (sea bass with pomegranate),
Raan-e- dumpukht (mutton raan), Subz miloni (seasonal
vegetables pan fried with
Indian spices), Chukki gobhi badami, Dal dumpukht, Murgh yakhni pulao (chicken pulao) and assorted
Indian breads.
The sweets were raspberry ganache tart, kesari phirni and mawa potli. In the vegetarian section, the non-vegetarian items were replaced with Qasr-e pukhtan, Dum ki guchhi and Mtia pulao. The thought of the luscious dishes revives my previous experiences and have enlightened my days that I had spent at the ITC Hotel The Maurya and given my best to keep my culinary expertise flying high.
Summary: U.S President Barack Obama Food Tasting Team In India
Cooking Time : 25 min
Yield : 6
My rating: 5 stars: ★★★★★ 1 review(s)