Full Breakdown
All-Vegetarian Menu at the BRICS Summit Triggers Political Debate in India
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Vegetarian Gala Dinner at the BRICS Summit
From September 11 to 13, 2026, India hosted the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The summit’s official gala dinner, organized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, featured an entirely vegetarian menu. Dishes included khandvi mille-feuille, paneer lababdar, gucchi marmik (Himalayan morel mushrooms with asparagus), millet pulao, mushroom galouti, and desserts such as jalebi and shahtoot phirni. The menu was presented as a showcase of India’s regional vegetarian culinary traditions and its emphasis on sustainable millets.
Background & Context
India has previously served vegetarian spreads at high-profile diplomatic events, notably the G20 meeting in Delhi. Grímsson’s recollection was posted on September 13, 2026 in response to social-media discussion of the BRICS menu.
Menu Details and Culinary Intent
Executive chef Kaushik Misra of the Taj Mah Palace explained that the dinner was designed as an “India Friendship Menu” to use food as a language of diplomacy. While the official Day 1 banquet remained vegetarian, in-room dining options prepared by partner hotels included non-vegetarian dishes such as nalli nihari and pepper fry with almonds. Misra emphasized months of research into delegates’ preferences and highlighted regional diversity, noting that millets were featured to promote the “Shree Anna” sustainable-food initiative.
Official Statements & Responses
The Prime Minister’s Office described the menu as “carefully curated ingredients” intended to highlight India’s culinary diversity without alienating international guests. Chef Misra reiterated that the vegetarian spread was meant to introduce visitors to Indian spices, herbs, and regional home-style flavours while respecting varied dietary habits. After the summit concluded, Prime Minister Modi congratulated China on assuming the BRICS chairmanship for 2027, noting that the grouping was entering its third decade with “concrete results.”
Criticism & Opposition
Congress leaders challenged the menu on cultural and political grounds. Pawan Khera, a Congress spokesperson, argued that the BJP’s choice concealed a major facet of India’s food culture and accused the government of imposing its dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari dismissed the criticism, suggesting that opposition focus on the menu indicated the summit’s overall success. BJP national spokesperson Tuhin Sinha labeled Gandhi’s remarks “petty and frivolous,” linking them to a broader perception of the Congress as a marginalised party.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The BJP's habit of imposing its dietary preferences on fellow Indians is already deeply problematic. Now, they have taken it a step further by imposing their own choices on dignitaries from across the world,” — Pawan Khera, congress spokesperson
- “When the opposition has nothing except the food menu to criticise about the summit, it tells you how successful BRICS has been.” — Pradeep Bhandari, BJP national spokesperson
- “When India is achieving such major successes and India's respect and prestige are growing across the world, the kind of petty and frivolous remarks Rahul Gandhi is making reflect his mentality as well as that of the Congress party,” — Tuhin Sinha