President Droupadi Murmu recently hosted Swiss President Guy Parmelin and First Lady Caroline Parmelin at a Rashtrapati Bhavan banquet. The meal put the spotlight on the culinary traditions of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and featured dishes like Nadur Kebab, Chaman Qaliya and more.
Swiss President Enjoys A Kashmiri & Ladakhi Feast In India
Kashmir is often called the “Switzerland of India”, and this is why the state dinner hosted at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Droupadi Murmu for Swiss President Guy Parmelin featured several Kashmiri dishes along with specialities of Ladakh. The menu included dishes like Chaman Qaliya, spiced cottage cheese cooked in milk, Haakh, seasoned collard greens, Dum Oluv, a Kashmiri potato dish, Tsok Wangun, baby eggplants cooked in a tangy sauce, and so much more.
The desserts deserve a special mention too. Swiss President Guy Parmelin and First Lady Caroline Parmelin enjoyed Shufta, Phirin, and Phaymer, along with fresh fruits. All these delicacies were complemented with beverages such as Kahwa, Gur Gur Chai and Wild Rose Tea.
According to India Today, the menu also featured Kimb Chaat from Jammu and Nadur Kebab with Dooyn Chetun. These are lotus stem patties seasoned with Kashmiri spices and served with walnut chutney.
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PM Modi Gifts Award-Winning Indian Cheese To Swiss President
In other news, we should also tell you that during Swiss President Guy Parmelin’s visit to India, PM Narendra Modi surprised him with a very special gift. Switzerland is known for its cheese, right? But PM Modi presented him with three different types of award-winning cheese made in the country.
According to News18, he gifted him Gulmarg, which is a French-style Brie made by Mumbai-based artisanal cheesemaker Eleftheria Cheese. It is heart-shaped and made with pasteurised cow’s milk. With mushroom-like earthy notes, Gulmarg even won a Super Gold medal at the 2026 Mundial do Queijo do Brasil, an international competition for cheese and dairy products.
The second cheese PM Modi gifted him was Konark, also made by Eleftheria Cheese. It has savoury notes with a lemony finish. According to News18, Konark won Gold at the 2023 World Cheese Awards in Norway and Silver at a cheese competition in Switzerland in 2025.
Yeoor was the third type of cheese presented to Swiss President Guy Parmelin. Aged for around nine months, this type is known for its complex flavour profile with a nutty, sweet taste.
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What do you think of the Kashmiri banquet and the cheese gifts? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Cover Image Courtesy: @rashtrapatibhvn/X and @VertigoWarrior/X
FAQs
Who is the President of Switzerland?
Guy Parmelin is the President of Switzerland.
Which types of cheese did PM Modi gift the Swiss President?
PM Modi gifted Gulmarg, Konark and Yeoor cheeses to the Swiss President.
Which country is known for cheese?
France, Italy, and Switzerland are three countries known for cheese.
