Patna, May 28: An unspecified directive from Rashtrapati Bhawan on the menu for President A P J Abdul Kalam during his stay in Bihar has thrown officials into a tizzy with baffled chefs deciding to prepare as many vegetarian delicacies as possible and leave it to the President to pick his choice. The state officials received only a one-line message from the Rashtrapati Bhawan yesterday saying ''the President prefers vegetarian food. No choice.''

"The absence of any choice left the officials to ponder over what items to serve to the President to suit his taste," an official of the Raj Bhavan said.

Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Raj Bhavan, Vijay Kumar Shukla, said here today that since no consensus could be reached on the menu, instructions have been issued to the cooks to prepare a long list of vegetarian items, including 'litti-chokha', a Bihari delicacy favourite of RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav, and leave it to the President to pick items of his choice.

A report from Nalanda said the district officials have decided to serve at least 18 varieties of vegetarian dishes to him.

A team of cooks from a local four-star hotel have been hired to prepare lunch for the President and others of his entourage on May 30 at Rajgir, the officials said.

Bureau Report