UNESCO nod to taste of Lucknow

It is only fitting and an overdue honour that Lucknow has been declared a UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’. The deci­sion taken at the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Confer­ence in Uzbekistan recognises not only the city’s famous Awadhi cuisine but also its latter-day renditions as newer restaurants and hotels cater to a more gentrified clientele.

Any city’s food traditions can be judged by its street offerings and the preparations served in traditional quarters. Lucknow’s fa­mous ‘kababchis’ and snack vendors have gained deserved fame. The city’s food is infused with a sense of history and the turbulence of the period when the power of the Nawabs waned. Alongside fragrant pulaos, nihari, and biryanis sit the city’s famous khasta kachori, varieties of chaat, golgappe filled with tangy water flavoured by hing, green chilli, ginger, mint, lime and jeera. Sweet dishes like makhan malai and shahi tukda add to the mix. The newer eating experiences rely on traditional recipes but add a twist with the spice and flavour combinations.

The heart of Awadhi cooking, however, resides in dishes like Mutton Halwa, Lassan ki Kheer, Moong Gosht, Bund Gosht, Mutanjan, Dal Sultani, Dum ki Chaap, Nazakati Botiya and Murgh Rezala, a report in the Hindustan Times notes. The street food at Aminabagh, Chowk, Hazratganj and Akbari Gate attracts devotees in droves, and most evenings the vendors have their hands full. Traditional tha­lis, thandai and kulfis add to the gastronomic delights on offer in a city which is famous for a range of food that goes far beyond being tagged as a meat-eater’s delight. “Lucknow is the second Indian city, after Hyderabad (designated in 2019), to earn a spot on the coveted list. The honour is particularly special as it comes at a time when Lucknow is celebrating 250 years as the capital of Awadh,” wrote The Times of India. “From mouth-watering Galouti kabab to Awadh biryani, delectable Chaat to Golgappe, desserts like malai makhan and more, Lucknow is now recognised by @UNESCO as a creative city of gas­tronomy”, posted the UN in India. (By Rajeev Deshpande)