French businessman Gilles Bragard, the man responsible for bringing the personal chefs of world leaders together in an exclusive club, says 'Le Club des Chefs des Chefs' (CCC) members are impressed with their trip to India as people here are warm and welcoming.
The club is on its first visit to India since its inception in 1977 in Paris by Bragard.
Touted to be the world's most exclusive gastronomic society, the club aims to use food as a bridge between cultures and societies. The club visits one member country every year to exchange ideas and explore new cuisines.
Bragard says Montu Saini, Executive Chef to President Pranab Mukherjee, was very keen to bring the club to India and he is happy that the club is finally in the country.
"Indian people are very open and they like to show the best of their culture and gastronomy. They like to welcome with their heart, there is nothing artificial," he told PTI in an interview.
Bragard says there is more curiosity about Indian cuisine in the international arena than before and it will only grow in future.
"We have visited India at the right time. The Indian cuisine is very well promoted outside. Earlier, there were no such organisations. Gastronomy in India is becoming important. Everybody thinks it is the best time for India."
The Paris-based club announced a three-month long scholarship for the top student of the Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa in New Delhi to train in the palaces of Europe, including in Monaco, during their first press conference, hosted by The Imperial here.
Bragard believes the club, which has grown into a prestigious institution, has been a success because the members are treated equally.
"They are international friends, there is no bitterness as they are on the same level. Monaco was the smallest country but Christian Garcia, who is chef to Prince Albert II of Monaco, is the president of the club. Our club should work as an example to the Heads of States."
He says the membership of the club is easy as the only condition for a chef to join the exclusive gathering is that he should be cooking for the head of his or her country.
The visiting members include Cristeta Comerford, Chef to the President of the United States of America, Indo-Canadian Neil Dhawan, who is Chef to the Prime Minister of Canada and Mark Flanagan, Chef to the Queen of the United Kingdom among others.
The club members were received by President Mukherjee for high tea and also had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before embarking on a tour of Taj Mahal in Agra and Jaipur.
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