New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) An Italian delegation here to promote the country's food products, especially the Grana Padano cheese and rice dishes, is happy over the popularity of Italian restaurants in India.

The Federlombarda Agricoltori (FLA), an Italian agricultural association of Lombardia region, in collaboration with the Promos-Milan Chamber of Commerce is in India as part of a European Union project to promote agricultural and food products of Europe.

"We know that in recent years Italian restaurants have become very popular in India and it is very important that in these places the individual traditions of both the countries are faithfully interpreted. For this reason we will also be going to some Italian restaurants in the capital to display some of our cheese and rice products," said Antonio Biancardi, chief of the delegation.

Among the well-known Italian restaurants in New Delhi are Diva at Greater Kailash II area and La Piazza in Hyatt Regency.

One of the places where the delegation did its promotional programme was The Oberoi. On Friday, starting with zucchini baby pie stuffed with cheese and served with pumpkin sauce, the dinner went on to a tri-coloured risotto selection - rice boiled in red wine, white wine and red bell peppers.

Served with red wine, the risotto was served with lots of cheese. Fresh plates came in thereafter with the main course - chicken meat in saffron sauce with cauliflower pudding.

A variety of cheese came next with honey, walnut and pears as decoration. The dessert was equally interesting with raisin and walnuts with wine vanilla sauce.

The delegation is also taking part in the Aahar-International Agrifood exhibition March 8-12 at the Pragati Maidan trade fair ground here.

"We hope that India appreciates our food products as much as we appreciate Indian cuisine," Biancardi said.