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Delectable kebabs, aromatic biryani, and airy, ethereal desserts.

The northern Indian city of Lucknow has forever been a food lovers' paradise, with residents and travelers alike celebrating its superb cuisine.

A Global Honor

In a recent announcement, Unesco honored it as a Creative City of Gastronomy – including it in a exclusive group of international urban centers and kindling hopes that it will highlight Lucknow's peerless food. With this title, it becomes part of a international community of cities cities across over 100 countries dedicated to promoting "creativity as a key factor of sustainable urban development".

The recognition "demonstrates its profound gastronomic legacy and vibrant gastronomic culture," as stated by a official from Unesco's regional bureau for South Asia.

Lucknow is merely the second Indian city – after Hyderabad, which was picked in 2019 – to secure a position in this prestigious list of seventy urban centers worldwide.

A City Defined by Food

The honor for this venerable city comes as little surprise to its inhabitants or avid food lovers. Many agree with the sentiment that it is "better late than never".

With the UNESCO accolade, this cherished, chaotic, and diverse city – the capital of India's largest state – is finally in the limelight for what has consistently characterized its essence: an profound devotion for food.

"'What's for dinner, how should it be prepared' is a ongoing dialogue from waking up until going to bed in most homes," notes a local cultural expert. "And you are actually assessed by the quality of food that emerges from your kitchen."

An Imperial Food Tradition

The City of Nawabs – as it's widely known after its historic opulent Muslim rulers – is famed for its succulent kebabs and a unique take on biryani that were created, evolved, and taken to sublime levels in their opulent kitchens.

These kitchens of the nobility were hubs of culinary innovations, merging Iranian and native Indian styles to create what became known as the food of Awadh.

It was in that period that Lucknow's iconic kebabs were created. The story goes that the galouti kebab was devised to cater to an elderly nawab who had lost his teeth. His culinary artists minced the meat with raw papaya, saffron, and a blend of spices and made it so fine that it required no chewing.

But arguably the greatest contribution of the chefs of Awadh was the slow-cooking Dum pukht technique, where food is prepared on a low, slow heat, with the pot's lid tightly sealed with dough.

More Than Just Famous Dishes

In addition to the famous kebabs and biryani, the culinary masters also created a repertoire of dishes that included kormas (creamy curries), sheermal (saffron-infused flatbread), and shahi tukda (a sweet bread pudding).

However, Lucknow is not only about kebabs and biryani – the region is additionally a dream for plant-based eaters.

The local Baniya community's cuisine not only showcases local ingredients but also gives the city its highly curated Indian desserts, sweets, and unique street food, like chaat – zesty fried snacks.

Hidden Gems and Legacy Eateries

Almost on countless corners, there are small establishments and carts – little-known delights that are immensely favored by the locals.

In the heart of the city of Hazratganj, throngs of people start milling around from early morning at a famous tea stall to get a steaming cup of spiced tea with milk, served in earthenware cups, along with fluffy buns lathered with hand-churned white butter.

For breakfast, one can head to a simple joint operating in the old city area of Aminabad. Almost 150 years after it was established, the place is still in great demand for its hot kachoris (fried bread stuffed with lentils) and jalebis (crispy, syrup-soaked sweets).

Preserving Tradition for the Future

The city also offers remarkable treats of the season, such as makkhan malai, a frothy dessert available in the winter. The method of making it is precise and complicated. The artisan hand-churns the milk and then leaves it out at night, allowing the nighttime moisture to give it its amazing light consistency.

On crisp mornings, street vendors are often seen in historic neighborhoods like Aminabad and Chowk. A number of but note that their younger generation do not want to take up the art.

A celebrity chef from Lucknow has noted that the city's rich food legacy puts it at the very pinnacle of the Indian street food experience. The true benefit from the UNESCO recognition, however, will materialize only if Lucknow can now create awareness about its hidden eateries.

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

The global recognition, it is hoped, will motivate more people around the world to learn these stories and experience the city to taste the gastronomic treasures of Lucknow.