The menu is in your stars

Some chefs believe that zodiac signs may play a larger role in determining what you should eat, finds Suman Tafardar.

Horoscope food - surely the stars you are born under are not related to the food you have or should have. It is the sheer intrigue of the theme that draws you to an unusual tango of the culinary and divination of the future.

Chef Devraj Halder, executive chef of Uppal’s Orchid, Delhi, says "Your sun sign not just influences your destiny; food can have an effect on you too. Certain food types are more suitable and beneficial for an individual according to his or her sun sign." He stresses that each sun sign has culinary habits that any person can relate to, and the zodiac determines the character and taste, as well as the constitutional framework. "Eating the right things also ensures a healthy life," he adds.

Halder reveals that he has been working on the concept for some months, and the research involved looking up existing texts as well consulting experts and searching on the internet to determine the food you should have. "What we are suggesting is not new, but there is considerable research done on the medicinal properties and diuretic doses of food," he says. He, along with master chef at Delhi's Uppal's Orchid hotel, Wang Li, has come up with an elaborate menu to suit each sun sign. However, the choices at the hotel's Chinese restaurant, Chef & I, are confined to Oriental food. "We opted for Chinese food as it is generally healthier than Indian food," explains Halder.

The menu for the restaurant is a revamped guide laid out according to the zodiac signs. Each sign carries a short introduction to its personality traits followed by what food best suits it. Each sign also has a list of meat, fruits, vegetables and fruits under it. With about 150 items on the menu, some of which just figure on a single zodiac sign, even Halder admits some items may not be requested at all. "My idea is to offer what a person should have, but of course any guest is free to choose what they want to eat," he says.

He explains his point with Cancer, a water sign. "Cancerians love indulging themselves. However, they need to check on spicy, oily food, yeast and stress more on legumes, herbs and seafood. Watermelon is ideal for them. The ideal meat for them is crab, the best fruits are grapes, lemon, papaya and coconuts, try vegetables like cabbage, cucumber, pumpkin, lettuce and turnip. The ideal spices are citron, sage, cinnamon, horseradish, mustard, thyme and vanilla," he adds.

While Leos are the best people to eat out with, Arians need to very careful, and food for 'invalids' is recommended for them. You may not always agree with assessments like these, but the awareness of what suits you could well put you on the track to healthier eating.