Our previous meals at Rashtrapati Bhavan have not been distinguished by particular culinary elegance, but by a robustness typical of the kitchens of northern India.

Tuesday's fare clearly did not please the Chinese alongside nor did it some of us Indians.

The hot and sour soup was so spicy that the Chinese shook their heads and gave up two spoons into it. The rest of the menu was lack-lustre -- rather tepid vegetable fried rice, noodles etc.

Check what was served alongside.

* Hai Apna Dil To Awara, composed by Sachin Dev Burman for Solvan Saal.