Hyderabad: The historic Taj Falaknuma Palace was decked up on Tuesday to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump on the first day of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES).
The Falaknuma Palace set up Table 101 – arguably the most opulent and longest dining table in the world.
The hotel showcased various cuisines, heritage and rich culture of the country to Ivanka Trump, among other dignitaries, ministers, renowned industrialists and delegates from the GES.
Ivanka’s welcome at the Palace was marked by traditional Indian rituals, beginning with an aarti and lighting of the lamp. All dignitaries were welcomed with local mogras and rose flowers.
The Prime Minister’s banquet included Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao; Chanda Kochhar, CEO, ICICI Bank; Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog; Sunil Mittal, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Enterprises; Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister of India and British Barrister Cherie Blair.
The Palace’s team of culinary experts was led by Executive Chef Sajesh Nair, who presented a five-course menu inspired by Telangana and Nizami cuisine.
The chefs took inspiration from menu illustrations and the guarded recipes of Nizams.
Local delicacies, like Dahi ke kebab, Gosht shikampuri kebab, Kubani ke malai kofta, Murg pista ka salan and Sitaphal kulfi were presented over various courses, which were split into Aghaz (soup), Mezban (appetizers), Waqfa (sorbet), Mashgool Dastarkhwan (main course) and Zauq-e-shahi (dessert).
The menu also gave guests a taste of rare Indian ingredients such as sandalwood, saffron and figs.
The table décor was inspired by the Deccan region’s cultural heritage. Rare artefacts and silver decorative pieces were brought in from the Nizam’s private collection at Chowmahalla Palace; while all upholstery used during the dinner was made with locally sourced fabrics such as Ikkat, Teliya and Velvet.
Butlers dressed in traditional sherwanis and vibrant headgear represented India’s ceremonial customs. The elaborate dining set up was laid out with the palace’s premium collection of glassware and silverware, along with personalized menus for each guest.
A gong was sounded to signify the beginning of each course and a personal butler served each of the 101 diners. A series of finely curated performances, a mesmerising setting and the legendary Taj service set the stage for an enduring tribute to the cultural legacy of India.
Having previously played host to who’s who of a grand bygone era, Taj Falaknuma Palace’s 101 Dining table is the largest single dining table and a quintessential venue for royals. While the ceiling of the dining room is adorned with restored pictorial menu paintings, five enchanting Belgian chandeliers illuminate the hall, which coincidentally, were built with exquisite acoustics that enables one to hear whispers from one corner of the room to another.
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