Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], November 9 (HBTV): The controversy surrounding samosas intended for Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, which allegedly went missing, has become the subject of much discussion. The case of the 'missing samosas' is now being investigated by the CID wing of the police.
While politicians spar over the samosas, the humble snack has become the talk of the hill town—especially the version made by the Radisson Hotel in Shimla. The hotel had been contracted to supply the samosas for a function at the CID branch, which CM Sukhu was to attend. When the samosas went missing, the CID called for an inquiry.
Chef Rajiv Bhardwaj, the culinary artist behind this creation and a chef at Shimla's Radisson Hotel, said the hotel had fulfilled the order.
"We served 21 samosas to the CID branch of Himachal Pradesh Police for the Chief Minister. The order included only three packs. One plate of our samosas is available for Rs 350 plus tax," he explained.
Sanjeev Ranjan Ojha, DG CID, said the CID had only questioned its team internally.
"This is completely an internal matter of the CID. It should not be politicized. The CM does not eat samosas... We have not issued any formal notice. We have only asked to find out what happened. The government has no involvement in this... We will determine how this information was leaked," he said.
Amidst the entire political furor, Radisson's signature samosa—filled with khoya paneer and potatoes—has become a culinary sensation not only in Shimla but across India.
Chef Bhardwaj is thrilled by the sudden popularity. "I have been a chef for 18 years in the hotel industry, but our samosa has never received this much limelight," he said. "Not even when I made the Guinness Book of World Records by cooking khichdi in Tata Pani in 2019."
Chef Rajiv's record-setting khichdi brought him recognition, but this samosa has stirred an unexpected buzz.
"The demand for this samosa has increased significantly among both foreign and Indian tourists visiting Hotel Radisson Shimla, and they love it," he noted.
Susan Hopkins, a visitor from Birmingham, UK, shared her excitement: "For me, this was a great experience. Samosa is a very good experience. I have never eaten this kind of samosa before." Although she often orders samosas from UK food stalls, she was intrigued by the local buzz around Radisson's samosa. "When I came to know that the samosa is the talk of the town here, I ordered it and enjoyed it. I'm recommending it to everyone," she added.
Her husband, David Hopkins, was equally impressed. "This filled samosa, which is served as a deep-fried pastry, is a very good experience for me. The feeling I'm getting from Radisson's samosa is something I have never experienced," he said, visibly delighted.
The fame of the samosa has even drawn Indian tourists from other states, like Neeraj from Gujarat. "When I heard about the samosa’s popularity, I wanted to experience it," he said, adding, "Seeing the speciality of the samosa, I came to Shimla especially for it. It’s a dish that everyone should try."
Though the samosa may have ignited a political storm, it has also rekindled interest in the snack and its special preparation at Shimla’s Radisson Hotel.
(ANI)