With several Olympians voicing their dissatisfaction with the Games Village food, Indian participants, including double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and other shooters, are finding relief in Indian meals at restaurants like Taj Mahal and Le Bombay in Chateauroux, France, reported PTI. Manu Bhaker has become the first Indian athlete post-independence to win two medals in a single edition. Atif Noman, co-owner of the Taj Mahal restaurant in the city centre distinctly remembers serving Manu “her favourite delicacies”. Noman told PTI, “After I saw her on TV creating history for India I remembered serving Indian foods to her.” He added that she has come here multiple times.
Noman, who hails from Punjab province in Pakistan, further revealed common Indian dishes ordered by the Olympians. “Matar paneer, dal makhani, palak paneer, all medium spicy and plain naan would be their regular orders. They would come in batches and would eat vegetarian food only,” he recollected, adding, “As the competitions are going now, they have stopped coming and mostly it’s the coaches and officials who keep coming now. It was really a lovely experience to catch up with them and talk to them in Hindi. They also loved our food and kept coming every day.”
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Just 300 metres from the Taj Mahal restaurant, one would find Le Bombay restaurant, which has been serving Indian delicacies for 38 years. Restaurant manager Mohammed Hamza, who hails from Afghanistan, told PTI, "It was like 'home away from home' for them. This is the first time we witnessed so many Indians coming here and they loved every bit of it."
The manager shared that their food was prepared with no spice. “The shooters mostly eat vegetarian dishes like dal, roti, or vegetables with no spice. We often serve them some accompaniments complimentary,” he said.
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As per reports, despite stories of Michelin-starred chefs helping prepare the menus in the Games Village in Paris, chefs and participants have raised several complaints about food such as small portions and a lack of high-protein foods.