Ravi Kissen learns about the kebabs at the Tunday Kababi restaurant that he inaugurated on Boring Canal Road in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Superstar Ravi Kissen may be a strict vegetarian and a member of People for Ethical Treatment of Animals but he is far from being a gastronomic tyrant.

On Wednesday, the actor inaugurated an outlet of the famous Tunday Kababi on Boring Canal Road. Connoisseurs of non-vegetarian delicacies would be able to order 22 varieties of kebabs at the air-conditioned restaurant.

Food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak, RJD secretary-general Ram Kripal Yadav, former chief secretary Navin Kumar and the brother-in-law of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Subash Yadav, were also present at the ceremony.

Asked why he inaugurated a non-vegetarian eatery, Kissen said: “I can’t ask others to not to eat non-vegetarian just because I am a vegetarian. I have never tasted any non-vegetarian dish but I know many people love this kebab.”

The chairperson of the chain of kebab outlets, Mohammed Usman, said: “My grandfather, Haji Murad Ali, invented this dish. The speciality of this kebab is that it melts in the mouth. The recipe is 105 years old and we use more than 100 spices.”

Legend has it that a rich man in Lucknow was very fond of kebabs but could not eat any, as he had lost all his teeth. He announced a competition for the softest kebabs and the tunday kebab was invented.

“Our kebab is so popular that we served it at the wedding of Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwariya Rai in 2007. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have also enjoyed this dish,” said Usman.

Now, Patnaites would be able to savour this delicacy for just Rs 85.

Usman said: “We have not compromised with the tradition or the taste of the kebab. The spices used will come from Lucknow, as will the cooks. ”

Foodies will be also able to order mutton boti kebab, mutton sheek kebab, shahi chicken masala and Awadhi kheer. Vegetarian like Kissen would be able to bite into vegetable kebabs and paneer tikka.

Food, however, is not the only thing that Kissen finds attractive about the restaurant. “It is very good for Bihar that such famous names are coming to our state,” he said.

Piyush Kumar Gupta and Chandan Kumar, who have taken the franchisee of Tunday Kababi in Patna, are upbeat about their new venture. “This dish is famous all over the world. I am sure people in Patna will like it as well,” said Gupta.