Idli and Dosa may give way to Utthapam as a choice menu after the change of guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan [Images] on Wednesay but the cuisines at the table will continue to be vegetarian.

All during his five-year tenure, the 75-year-old A P J Abdul Kalam's preferred menu at the table was Idli, Dosa and Sambar besides curd-rice, pickle and pappad, recalls a senior aide.

The 72-year-old Pratibha Patil loves Utthapam and Dal but avoids spinach and potatoes.

"She prefers a very simple food with less oil and spices," says Kailash, her butler at the Governor's residence in Jaipur.

A habitual late-eater at night, the missile-man had made it clear to the Comptroller of Household in Rashtrapati Bhavan to prepare all his meals only from the general kitchen, which caters to other staff members in the Presidential Estate.

Stopping the practice of a number of attendants in waiting till the President finished his dinner and retired for the night, Kalam insisted on holding back only one person to warm up his meals, which he used to take well-past midnight.      

There have been occasions when Kalam required some help from other aides during the night. Leaving aside protocol, Kalam, who has earned a reputation of being a people's President, picked up the phone and directly seek the information he required.

"He was a no requirement man," recalls his press secretary S M Khan.

During the entire tenure, the family kitchen specially meant for the President was never operational. Not even when his 50-odd relatives had come to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kalam insisted that he make the payments for the expenditure incurred during the stay of the relatives.      

The President, who skips lunch, had also a love for fruits of any type.

"Anything that was seasonal will satisfy him. We had created a Verandah garden for him in which Citrus japonica (China orange) grew. Though tasting very bitter, the President used to have them because of its rich Vitamin-C content," OSD Brahma Singh said.

Defying the age-old principle of early to bed, Kalam used to sleep around 1:30 am and used to get up at around 6:30 am. He was the only President with 10 engagements in his daily list.

His Secretary P M Nair recounts his experience four years back.

"It was the morning of July 14, 2003. 8:40 am. The fax in my office rang. It was the President at the other end. In his usually cool and composed voice, he told me 'Mr Nair, last night I could not sleep because my bedroom was leaking.'

"I froze. Any other President and my head would have rolled, though no fault of mine," Nair said in his 'Thank You' note to officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Sensing his embarrassment, the rocket-scientist spoke in a comforting tone.

"Don't worry, I know you will immediately set things right in my bedroom but I am worried about those houses in the President's Estate where they may not have a second bedroom to shift to when the only one that is available leaks."

Nair responded saying, "Sorry Sir, I shall act just now."