Mumbai's iconic restaurant Britannia & Co. is as famous for its food and ambience as it is for its colourful 93-year-old owner Boman Kohinoor. A few days ago, Kohinoor, an admirer of the British royal family, expressed his desire to meet Prince William and Kate Middleton during their India visit from Apr. 10 to 16.
Kohinoor, who describes himself as the number one fan of the royal family, had requested William and Kate to come to his restaurant to meet him. The video by Conde Nast Traveller India soon went viral, being shared by numerous people on Twitter with the hashtag #WillKatMeetMe. The message got across, and Kohinoor was invited by the royal couple for an impromptu meeting at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where they were staying.
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Will the Royal family visit Britannia?When the British left #India, they left their biggest, and maybe oldest, fan behind. Boman Kohinoor, 93, is the owner of the iconic Britannia restaurant in #Mumbai. Ahead of the royal couple's visit, he hopes his favourite family will give him the honour of hosting them. He promises that the famous berry pulav will be on the menu. Take our word for it—this is a meal worth travelling for. Will they or won't they? Do your bit. Spread the word. Make this dream come true! #WillKat #WillKatMeetMe #RoyalVisitIndia Prince William And Kate Middleton
Posted by Condé Nast Traveller India on Thursday, 7 April 2016
The last-minute meeting was a pleasant surprise for Kohinoor as he finally managed to fulfill his life-long dream, and had a tête-à-tête with the couple about his restaurant and the secret family recipe behind his famous dish berry pulao.
Established in 1923 by Kohinoor's father Rashid, the family-run Britannia restaurant is a Mumbai landmark. An intrinsic part of Mumbai's heritage, it is one of the city's few surviving Irani cafes. Britannia is famous for its Iranian and Parsi food, characteristic of the city's small Zoroastrian community.
It's crumbling interiors reflect Kohinoor's admiration for British royalty, with memorabilia such as the Union Jack and life-size portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Kate Middleton. His prized possessions include a letter and pictures sent by the Queen, after he wrote her a letter inviting her to Mumbai and to visit his restaurant.
