The pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant have kept the world enthralled, and now, the full menu for March 2 has been revealed by sources. It features some winning desi flavours, homegrown brands, the best of world cuisine and signatures by celebrity chefs.
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities lit up Jamnagar for a few days and kept everyone’s social media feeds super busy. The three-day bash from March 1 to March 3, reportedly worth Rs 1,000 crore which was held at Ambani’s 750-acre property, Reliance Greens, preceded the actual wedding, which will be held on July 12.
It was reported earlier than a total of 2,500 dishes would be served during the festivities; chefs from all over the world and some beloved homegrown brands were also featured on the menu.
The kiosk also had Bikaner Chattri Gola along with the beloved Chuski Pepsi in many flavours. Thailand’s popular ice cream brand IceDEA famed for their animal-shaped and nature-inspired ice creams, were featured on the menu and served Mangosteen, Mango Sticky Rice along with dalmatian-shaped cookie & cream ice cream and corgi-shaped volcanic ovaltine ice cream.
But what gained the premium attention was when Shankar Ice Cream was selected to serve their ‘bestest’ flavours of ice cream on the meadows.
In the quest of the subject, we spoke to Bhagyesh Samnani, Director of Shankar Ice Cream, Ahmedabad about his company’s participation in the worlds’ greatest international gathering of Ambani’s event.
What inspired you to create such a diverse range of ice creams for Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding ceremony and how was your entry to the event?
We’ve had a longstanding partnership with Ambani, and this recent event was especially significant as it brought together world leaders. To mark the occasion, they sought something fresh and innovative, prompting us to step up. Initially, our involvement began through a catering company. However, our performance caught the Ambanis’ attention, leading them to entrust us with direct orders.
Amidst the plethora of ice cream offerings at the event, our stand managed to shine. With numerous functions taking place alongside, we were tasked with catering to a crowd equivalent to that of a small town. Our treats had to cater to everyone, from top-level celebrities to the security personnel. The attendees were truly VVIP, and we even had to prepare treats for their personal assistants.
The excitement of catering to such a large crowd descending upon Jamnagar fuelled our inspiration during the intense 10-day preparation period for the event. We realized that our traditional ice cream offerings might not appeal to the foreign dignitaries attending. With leaders and business tycoons from various countries on the guest list, we crafted a fusion ice cream menu featuring exotic nuts and berries.
For instance, we combined Indian sweet lime with ice cream and went ahead with blueberries, cranberries, red berries, mulberries, and other exotic fruits. Despite the initial uncertainty, we managed to serve these innovative ice creams with great success.
Another standout ice cream we offered was the Kesar Chilgoza (Pine nut) flavour. Kesar, known as India’s prized spice, combined with the richness of Chilgoza to create a vegan ice cream, low in sugar, that became an instant hit. We sweetened it with stevia, a purely natural, sugar alternative, without any added sugars.
In addition, we introduced the Cranberry with Jamun fusion, which left a memorable impression on our consumers’ taste buds. This unique combination of ice cream flavours added another layer of excitement to our ice cream offerings.
How did the people respond to your coconut ice cream?
That sounds like a fantastic addition to our ice cream repertoire! We served tender coconut ice cream in Mukesh Ambani’s shop at Reliance. To create this unique treat, we ordered whole coconut shells, extracted the tender coconut malai, and then crafted a vegan coconut ice cream using natural ingredients. Finally, we poured this creamy delight back into the coconut shells, offering a refreshing and indulgent experience for our customers.
Our speciality was providing a unique taste combination: orange with delicate coconut. The response to this unique combination was tremendously favourable, with many praising it’s refreshing and pleasant flavour. While others sampled other ice cream brands, they were captivated to our orange with delicate coconut flavour. It was gratifying to watch our clients experience something genuinely unique and unforgettable throughout the event.
You must have faced logistic problems catering to so many VIPs, how did you manage that logistically?
The security protocol was scrupulously maintained. To guarantee a smooth admission, we had already submitted our vehicle number, ID card, Aadhar card, fingerprint scan, and eye scan. Our preparations began early, with staff members selected for the event obtaining the relevant documents, including Aadhar cards, pictures, and eye scans, as well as undergoing RT-PCR testing, which was critical for servicing the high-profile participants.
Logistically, transporting ice cream and ingredients was straightforward; we had enough of supplies and equipment. With a devoted workforce of 22-23 people, we were ready to serve around 30,000 customers, including air-cooled ice cream. The arrangement had been properly planned long in advance. Our unique IDs provided easy access to items, assuring timely delivery to the party site with no difficulties.
Any memorable incidents that your guests must have praised you?
Basking in the warmth of admiration made me feel euphoric, as if I were on cloud nine. It was quite wonderful to be recognised for my efforts, especially in creating no added sugar and vegan ice creams. Knowing that my effort had an impact on others and addressed their nutritional needs gave me a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. Their praise reflects the commitment and passion I put into my work. Even now, I am still receiving admirations for the work I put into creating unique ice cream flavours. It’s extremely encouraging to know that my work continues to resonate with people, and I appreciate the continuous acknowledgment and support.
The coconut ice cream served in a shell with cream and fennel seeds on top earned a lot of appreciation, which I personally experienced in our Ahmedabad location. With approximately 30,000 people from the township attending, the novelty of our mango and jamun ice cream combination sparked excitement. By combining two of India’s finest fruits, we created a delectable treat that left a lasting impression. Many attendees expressed that our ice cream surpassed even the tastiest dinner meals indicating its immense popularity and success.