New Delhi: Indian foods have created a buzz around the world since long time. But no one had imagined that a US President’s tongue will go ‘yumm’ for the Indian spices.
A nine-year-old Indian American girl left the Obama couple awestruck when she served a ‘garam masala’ Quinoa Burger with ‘raita’ to them, and won a chance to dine with the First Lady at the White House.
Hailing from Schaumburg, Illinois, Shreya Patel was among 55 young cooks who were given a red carpet welcome at the White House during the fourth annual “Kids’ State Dinner” recently.
The competition was to create a recipe for a healthy lunch.
President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama savoured her dish at the event and praised her effort.
Shreya’s ‘garam masala quinoa burger with raita’ was chosen as the winning recipe from Illinois. She was invited for the lunch with Michelle Obama at a flower-bedecked table in the East Room on July 10. Her Quinoa Burger dish was enhanced with garam masala, cumin, ginger and grated Serrano chilies.
“I have watched my mom and grandma make all sort of delicious food in the kitchen with an Indian twist since I was born,” Shreya said.
“I have been helping them cook since I was three. I love to mix, measure, chop, and even clean up afterwards.â€
“My grandma and I came up with this recipe together because we both love sandwiches. We make this recipe often to take to school for lunch or even on picnics with friends,” Shreya, who aims to become a pharmacist like her father, added.
The “Kids’ State Dinner” contest was open to children aged between eight and 12 years and nearly 1,000 recipes were submitted.