The Rashtrapati Bhavan will serve mouth-watering dishes to President Syed Mohammed Khatami and his entourage, sources said on Friday.
The Comptroller of Household [Rashtrapati Bhavan], Lieutenant Colonel Ashok Kinney, and his team of chefs will take the Iranian president on a 'gastronomical adventure', they said.
In fact, Khatami will be surprised when two Iranian delicacies are served to him at the banquet hosted by his Indian counterpart, A P J Abdul Kalam, on Saturday night. Not only that, Iranian music will also be played.
It was Kalam who had come up with this idea, which was first implemented when Russian President Vladimir Putin came calling. Putin was quite thrilled when two Russian delicacies were served and music from his country was played.
It was the same when dignitaries from Tanzania and Singapore stayed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The Iranian president, who is on a five-day visit, will take the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the morning and visit Rajghat -- Mahatma Gandhi's memorial.
At 1930 IST he will call on Kalam and attend the banquet half an hour later.
On Sunday, Kalam and Khatami will leave for the Republic Day celebrations, where the Iranian leader is the guest of honour.
During his stay in Delhi, the Iranian president will have discussions with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani and others.
