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Tempting kebabs, scented biryani, and fluffy, ethereal desserts.

The northern Indian city of Lucknow has forever been a dream destination for epicures, with inhabitants and visitors alike praising its exquisite cuisine.

A Global Honor

Last month, Unesco recognised it as a Creative City of Gastronomy – placing it on a prestigious list of international urban centers and kindling hopes that it will spotlight Lucknow's peerless food. With this title, it enters a international community of cities cities across more than 100 countries focused on promoting "creativity as a key factor of sustainable urban development".

The honor "demonstrates its profound gastronomic legacy and lively gastronomic culture," according to a representative from UNESCO's Regional Office for South Asia.

Lucknow is merely the second Indian city – following Hyderabad, which was selected in 2019 – to find a place in this coveted list of 70 cities internationally.

A Metropolis Shaped by Cuisine

The accolade for this venerable city arrives as hardly a shock to its inhabitants or avid food lovers. Many echo the sentiment that it is "an honor long overdue".

With the UNESCO recognition, this cherished, chaotic, and diverse city – the administrative center of India's biggest state – is at last in the global gaze for what has always defined its essence: an unparalleled love for food.

"'What's for dinner, the method of preparation' is a ongoing dialogue from waking up until night in most homes," notes a local cultural expert. "And you are often evaluated by the excellence of food that comes out of your kitchen."

A Royal Culinary Legacy

The City of Nawabs – as it's popularly called after its historic affluent Muslim rulers – is famed for its melt-in-the-mouth kebabs and a unique take on biryani that were created, evolved, and taken to exquisite levels in their imperial kitchens.

These imperial kitchens were hubs of culinary innovations, fusing Persian and indigenous Indian styles to create what became known as the culinary tradition of Awadh.

It was during this time that Lucknow's renowned kebabs were fashioned. As the tale is told that the mutton galouti was devised to feed an elderly nawab who had no longer had his teeth. His chefs ground the meat with raw papaya, kesar, and a blend of spices and made it so soft that it required no chewing.

But perhaps the most significant contribution of the cooks of Awadh was the slow-cooking Dum pukht technique, where food is cooked on a gentle, slow heat, with the container's cover securely sealed with a flour paste.

More Than Just Famous Dishes

Apart from the well-known kebabs and biryani, the culinary masters also built up a vast array of dishes that included kormas (rich curries), sheermal (saffron-infused flatbread), and shahi tukda (a sweet bread pudding).

However, Lucknow is not just about kebabs and biryani – the region is additionally a haven for vegetarians.

The local Baniya community's cuisine not only highlights seasonal produce but also provides the city its exquisitely crafted Indian desserts, sweets, and distinctive street food, like chaat – tangy fried snacks.

Hidden Gems and Legacy Eateries

Almost on countless corners, there are tiny kiosks and carts – hidden delights that are extremely popular with the locals.

In the heart of the city of Hazratganj, throngs of people start assembling from early morning at a famous tea stall to get a piping hot cup of spiced tea with milk, served in kulhads, along with fluffy buns covered in hand-churned white butter.

To start the day, one can make their way to a unpretentious joint operating in the old city area of Aminabad. Almost 150 years after it was set up, the place is still highly popular for its freshly fried kachoris (fried bread stuffed with lentils) and jalebis (crispy, syrup-soaked sweets).

Safeguarding a Culinary Heritage

The city also presents unique treats of the season, such as makkhan malai, a frothy dessert savored in the winter. The method of making it is intricate and demanding. The artisan hand-churns the milk and then leaves it out at night, allowing the nighttime moisture to give it its incredible airy feel.

On chilly mornings, street vendors are often seen in old city areas like Aminabad and Chowk. Some but note that their younger generation do not want to learn the craft.

A well-known culinary expert from Lucknow has frequently stated that the city's profound food legacy puts it right on top of the Indian street food experience. The significant impact from the UNESCO recognition, it is believed, will be realized only if Lucknow can now generate interest about its under-the-radar eateries.

Every dish in Lucknow comes with a history – shaped by multi-generational food businesses, from humble street carts to lively restaurants, and secret family recipes.

The international acclaim, it is anticipated, will motivate more people globally to explore these stories and experience the city to savour the gastronomic treasures of Lucknow.