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After day long talks on policy and business, US President Barack Obama may just end the first day of his India visit with a Madhuri paan from North Avenue’s Pandey Paan Bhandar.
The tiny shop in the capital’s North Avenue is the official supplier to Rashtrapati Bhawan and has the honour of serving paan to many famous political leaders as well as celebrities. It has in the past served paan to former US Presidents such as Bill Clinton and George Bush.
On Sunday night, too, paan from the shop will be on offer as part of the banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan in honour of Obama.
Owner DP Pandey told BusinessLine , “While last time we had prepared butterscotch paan and kiwi paan for Obama when he had visited in 2010, this time we will offer Madhuri paan, choco layer paan, custard apple paan and also butterscotch paan, among others.” Interestingly, Madhuri paan, made with honey and rose, was named after Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit when she visited the shop.
The first shop was opened in New Delhi’s Connaught Place in 1943 while the one in North Avenue, South Block, was opened in 1972 when the then President VV Giri allotted them a place in the vicinity of Presidential Palace.
“No gathering at the Rashtrapati Bhawan is complete without paan from our shop,” Pandey added.
The shop offers 50 interesting varieties such as fresh fruit paan, black forest paan, strawberry, brownie walnut paan, cranberry sweet paan, wild blueberry, custard apple, kiwi, muskmelon and sweet paan with dried fruit.
Some have even whacky names such as Blaster 200, 4th Idiot Sweet paan and Chiggy Wiggy paan.
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