The Rashtrapati Bhavan of India has been famous for hosting lavish state dinners in honor of foreign heads of state visiting the country. In this, not only different types of dishes are prepared, but also care is taken as to which special dishes the foreign guest especially likes. From Barack Obama to Sheikh Hasina, everyone praised the food here. This time too, when Russian President Vladimir Putin has come to India, Rashtrapati Bhavan has hosted a state dinner for him. Many delicious dishes will be served in this also. These will also be placed in front of Putin but he may not eat even a single morsel.
There is also a story as to why Putin would do this. Due to his strict security protocol during foreign trips, he does not even touch food cooked from outside, even if it is served at the host President’s banquet. Their food is prepared by Russian chefs from the accompanying kitchen team.
Putin is always accompanied by his kitchen team
Putin always travels with a dedicated team of Russian chefs, assistants and a mobile food-tasting lab, carrying with him food ingredients, spices and water. She cooks only those instructions given to her by the food experts of the security team.
He has not eaten food from outside chefs in foreign countries for 20 years.
Putin’s chef team cooks his own food following strict hygiene standards. This work is being done for at least 20 years. So that neither there is anything wrong with their food nor they can ever be poisoned through food. Whenever Putin travels to foreign countries, he avoids food prepared by local chefs.
Putin prefers simple, high-protein meals, such as Russian cottage cheese tvorog, porridge with honey, raw quail eggs, fish dish smoked sturgeon, lamb meat, tomato-cucumber salad. They avoid sweets, spicy or fatty foods. Sometimes have pistachio ice cream.
Putin prefers simple, traditional and healthy food instead of heavy or processed dishes. Drinks: He often prefers green tea, and is said to drink fermented dairy drinks such as kefir.
where will their food come from
So in this dinner organized at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 5 December 2025, Indian menu will undoubtedly be served in front of him but the personal food will come from his secure source. This protocol has been applicable in his previous visits to India also.
When Putin travels abroad, he takes a complete food convoy from his country, which includes cooks, support staff and a portable food testing lab.
their team prepares the food
The food, be it a simple or a formal state dinner, is prepared by his own team, using ingredients imported from Russia and pre-tested. This team sets up the kitchen inside within some time as soon as they arrive.
This system started in the 2000s. During Putin’s travels abroad between 2006 and 2010, his food convoy i.e. kitchen team and food testing team were regularized.
Therefore, even if they go to Rashtrapati Bhavan, dinner or banquet of any country, the real food is not served there which is served to other people, rather their food comes separately from their own kitchen, which they eat.
What is a portable food lab?
When Putin travels abroad, a portable lab tests his food, water etc. before he eats it to see if any poison has been mixed in it.
Who is part of their food team?
It consists of Russian chefs, tasters, lab technicians, who are responsible for cooking, serving and testing the food. Everything used for eating, be it glasses, utensils or utensils for washing utensils – everything already comes from Russia. As soon as he finishes eating, his team immediately picks up the plate, glass or other crockery and keeps it in their possession.
