Maharashtrian cuisine is popular not only in the state but also throughout the country. There are numerous savoury treats to choose from, ranging from popular street foods like 'vada pav' and 'bhel' to wholesome dishes like 'thalipeeth' and 'zunka'. There are also plenty of sweet and beverage options. Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, recently had the opportunity to sample some of these incredible delicacies for himself. He went to Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi with three colleagues who explained the dishes to him.
We see him digging into the Maharashtrian meal in a video shared on the embassy's official Twitter handle @USAmbIndia. He started with some cool kokum 'sherbet'. Given the hot weather outside, it quickly gained his approval. He then tried vada pav, which he referred to as a "Mumbai slider". He also tried some 'khichdi' with 'sabudana (sago)'. He had 'Bharli Vangi' (stuffed brinjal) with 'bhakri' for the main course. He also tried 'saoji mutton curry'.
According to his colleagues, the actual recipe is usually kept a secret. "It's like being able to have dessert in the middle of your meal," he continued, holding up a bowl of 'aamras'. He sipped some cooling sol kadhi before moving on to the desserts. Puran poli (dipped in milk) was one of the sweet treats he tried.
The ambassador described the meal as "incredible" and joked that his fourth course would be a nap. He also mentioned that the "amazing" saoji mutton curry was his favourite. "From the bustling streets of LA to the colourful lanes of Delhi, my love of great food continues," he wrote in the caption. I'm at Maharashtra Bhawan, eager to discover India's fascinating flavours. Join me on this journey as I explore India's essence one state at a time. "What should I do next?" Watch the entire video here:
So far, the tweet has received 440.6K views. Many Twitter users suggested that he try other foods. Read on for some of their reactions: