Images are representative (Credit: Instagram, Pinterest) Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, September 12, immediately joining the proceedings of the BRICS Summit. He however, opted out of the dinner being hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the evening. Also absent from the high profile dinner was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, who left for home shortly after. That being said, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders of the BRICS attended the dinner as did union ministers and chief ministers of several states. Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma were some of the dignitaries who marked their presence. The dinner menu for the BRICS gala dinner rightly put the spotlight on some classics Indian favourites, only, most were reinterpreted to excitingly appeal to international palettes. The result was potentially among the most glocal menus to have come out of international gatherings of this scale. The Khandvi Mille-Feuille is a great example of this. The soft, coconut-dusted, mustard seed -tempered Gujarati snack hardly needs any introduction; but it is the mille-feuille aspect of it which piques curiosity. The Mille-Feuille twist refers to the famous French 'thousand layer' puff pastry, indicating how the cooked besan and yoghurt sheets were reinterpreted in their texture to create a truly unique dish. Next in line was the Khumb Galouti. While the most traditional way to savour this dish is in its Awadhi meat form, the 'khumb' version replaces the melt-in-your-mouth poultry with finely minced mushroom, spiced to perfection. The Gucchi Marmik too deserves a shoutout in this regard, also spotlighting the rare wild Himalayan morel mushrooms, cooked with asparagus, saffron, raisins and mamra almonds to create an earthy, smoky and rich umami dish, albeit, rooted in India. Also Read: Ajwaini Fish Curry to Roasted Chicken: Every Mouthwatering Item on the BRICS Summit 2026 Lunch Table The more straightforward options on the menu included the Paneer Labadar, a Carrot and Bean Poriyal (a Tamil-inspired sauteed vegetable sabzi) and some earthy millet pulao. As for dessert, there's no way the Jalebi served Old Delhi-style with fruit cream wasn't a big hit. The same goes for the luxurious Phirni topped with fresh shahtoots (mulberries), which made for the last item on the menu. Also Read: What’s On The Menu For BRICS Delegates - From Lotus-Inspired Desserts To Millet Ladoos A day prior to the BRICS Summit's official commencement, the Bharat Mandapam hosted delegates and media personnel from around the world for preliminary sessions. The lunch options for the day was a hearty spread presenting Indian classics as well as international staples. Paneer Makhani, Aloo Gobhi, Penne Alfredo, Sauteed Vegetables, Roasted Chicken, Ajwaini Fish Curry and steaming hot Phullkas were among some of the options available. Coming back to the gala dinner menu, the options sure did make for a delicious end to a long day of deliberations. Aalokitaa Basu is a writer and Senior Copy Editor whose work explores the intersection of lifestyle, culture, beauty, wellness, and self-possession. H... View More