The Taj Ballroom was all set for the event. Ice carvings of batsmen in action were placed near the centre of the room, and the buffet tables of the Super Six countries -- South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and India -- lavishly laid out. Each team, led by chefs S Kachroo, Sajesh Nair, Harshad Thakur, R Iyer, Shyam Longani and Arun Sundararaj, under the expert coaching of executive chef Hemant Oberoi, tried to outdo each other in culinary skills. A live band belted out foot-tapping numbers while the guests mingled, exchanging notes on the dishes.

The eclectic mix of guests included business barons Harsh Goenka and Dilip De,Canadian Vice Consul Sanjeev Chowdhury, ex-model Sherie Mehr Homji with Nikhil Khatau, former sheriff Nana Chudasama with his wife, ad man Farid Currim, columnist Rashmi Uday Singh, Mid-Day's managing director Tariq Ansari, designer Jay Ramrakhiani, model-turned-actor Sanjay Suri and lensman Mino La Franca.

The crowd first merely went around the tables taking in the aroma of lobster tails with sauce from South Africa, chappali kebabs and taka tin from Pakistan, nadru palak from India, smoked chicken with polenta fries and berry chutney from New Zealand, cheesy fennel lasagne from Australia and braised oxtail with carrots and red kidney beans from Zimbabwe.

The judges had a tough task -- that of sampling the food from each team to decide who would take home the crystal trophy. The panel consisted of well-known foodies -- TV anchor and columnist Anish Trivedi, models Lisa Ray and Namrata Baruwa, theatre personality Sabira Merchant, writer Shobha De, Alliance Francaise's Director Pierre-Emmanuel and BritishDeputy High Commissioner Michael Bates.

Still the choice proved easy. New Zealand was unanimously declared the favourite for the excellent taste and presentation. Ray said: ``Their food was neither too spicy nor too bland. Also, the food looked very appealing.'' Jacob noted: ``The Pakistani food was equally tasty but it was New Zealand's smoked salmon and hand-picked crab with salad and ginger jus that tilted the scales.'' De too voted for New Zealand. ``Pakistani food came a close second, but I was disappointed with the choice of Indian dishes. Indian cuisine has a lot more to offer and they could have done much better.''About the event, Sanjeev Chowdhury said: ``It's a great concept and I must admit that Express Gourmet comes up with the best food events. Events like this one are the perfect way to taste new cuisine and have a good time.''