Former Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson recalls that he served an all-vegetarian meal to then-Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam during Kalam’s 2005 state visit to Iceland. Grimsson says the menu reflected the occasion while emphasizing that Kalam was served a vegetarian option.
The recollection is discussed in the context of a broader “BRICS menu row” referenced by the outlet. Different accounts focus less on the meal itself and more on why the episode is being highlighted now—either as an example of accommodating dietary preferences during official visits or as a counterpoint to current debate around menus at international events. While NDTV centers on the Iceland anecdote, the mention of the BRICS dispute frames it as part of a wider conversation about food choices and protocol in multilateral settings.
