Indian restaurateur Monish Gujral wins award in China

Indian restaurateur and foodie Monish Gujral's book "On The Kebab Trail" has been named the Best Foreign Recipe Cookbook at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held during the Beijing Cookbook Fair.

Presenting the award, Eduard Cointreau, chairman of the Gourmand awards and the Paris Cookbook Fair, described the book as "beautiful and intriguing" as it showcases international kebab recipes, Gujral said in a statement.

Accepting the award, Gujral said the book was very special as it gave him a chance to travel the world to explore the most delectable international kebabs.

He also spoke on how the book came about.

Once, while addressing a class at a culinary institute, a Bosnian student told him about kebabs in his country, which prompted him to go exploring different parts of the world to hunt out these exotic delicacies.

"This is the first book which celebrates international kebabs," the statement said.

"On The Kebab Trail" had earlier won the Gourmand Cook Books Award for the best foreign cuisine cookbook in India. It has made waves in India and became a national bestseller with rave reviews in the media.

Gujral is the grandson of the well-known Kundan Lal Gujaral, creator of the famed North Indian Moti Mahal chain of eateries that set tandoori chicken on the food map and also conceived the exemplary Punjabi butter chicken.