
Food and drinks weigh heavily on the minds of babus attending Cabinet meetings. And, if they had a say in the matter, they would opt for the Prime Minister8217;s Office in South Block for all such meetings rather than the PM8217;s residence at 7, Race Course Road. The reason: The liveried waiters from Ashoka Hotel at the PM8217;s residence are no match for the canteenwallahs at the PMO. Requests for even chai at 7, RCR, can take up to half an hour. By this time, the bureaucrats point out, the PMO8217;s modest canteenwallahs would have fed them samosas, washed down with tea.