Chandigarh, The atmosphere was joyous, the occasion truly memorable. It was the much-awaited dinner hosted by Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for Olympic medalists and participants from the state, and some others, including gold medalist Neeraj Chopra.
Pleasure intermingled with pride, as India’s celebration of the Olympic glory continued days after the return of the heroes. The lawns of the Chief Minister’s farmhouse in Mohali were lit up with the spirit of revelry and the aroma of the savouries that Capt Amarinder had painstakingly prepared for his cherished guests.
Capt Amarinder’s special touch was unmistakable. It could be seen (and tasted) in every dish of the lavish spread on the table. And the smile of satisfaction on his face, even after hours of hard work as the chef of the moment, was enviable.
“I started at 1100 hrs in the morning. Most of it was done by around 1700 hrs, and then it was time for some final touches. But I loved every minute of it,” said the Chief Minister, with the enjoyment of it all sparkling in his eyes.
“They (the sportspersons) worked so hard to win us glory, what I have done for them is nothing in comparison,” he remarked, looking his usual diaper self as he greeted the guests personally, with no sign of fatigue from all those hours of cooking and supervising the arrangements.
And the hospitality of Capt Amarinder clearly knew no bounds, as he could be seen serving his guests personally, straight out of the ‘patilas’ in which he had cooked his choicest dishes earlier. “The food always tastes better if served direct from the cooking vessel,” he remarked – his knowledge of food no less sharp than his cooking skills.