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Mouth-watering kebabs, aromatic biryani, and fluffy, ethereal desserts.

The northern Indian city of Lucknow has consistently been a haven for gastronomes, with locals and travelers equally swearing by its superb cuisine.

Worldwide Recognition

Last month, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization honored it as a City of Gastronomy within its Creative Cities Network – adding it to a prestigious roster of global cities and sparking hopes that it will highlight Lucknow's sublime food. With this status, it enters a international community of more than four hundred cities across more than 100 countries dedicated to promoting "creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development".

The honor "is a testament to its profound gastronomic legacy and lively gastronomic culture," as stated by a official from UNESCO's regional bureau for South Asia.

Lucknow is only the second Indian city – following Hyderabad, which was selected in 2019 – to secure a position in this coveted list of 70 cities worldwide.

A Metropolis Shaped by Cuisine

The accolade for this historic city is little surprise to its locals or avid food lovers. Many share the opinion that it is "better late than never".

With the UNESCO accolade, this adored, bustling, and eclectic city – the capital of India's biggest state – is now in the spotlight for what has consistently characterized its essence: an profound passion for food.

"'The day's menu, how will it be cooked' is a ongoing conversation from waking up until night in many homes," notes a local cultural expert. "And you are often assessed by the excellence of food that emerges from your kitchen."

A Royal Culinary Legacy

The City of Nawabs – as it's popularly called after its historic opulent Muslim rulers – is famed for its tender kebabs and a unique take on biryani that were created, perfected, and taken to extraordinary levels in their imperial kitchens.

These royal kitchens were hubs of gastronomic creativity, fusing Iranian and indigenous Indian styles to create what became known as the food of Awadh.

It was during this time that Lucknow's renowned kebabs were fashioned. The story goes that the mutton galouti was devised to feed an ageing nawab who had lost his teeth. His cooks ground the meat with raw papaya, saffron, and a blend of spices and made it so fine 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 prepared on a low, slow heat, with the container's cover securely sealed with dough.

A Diverse Culinary Landscape

In addition to the famous kebabs and biryani, the cooks also developed a collection of dishes that included kormas (rich curries), sheermal (saffron-infused flatbread), and shahi tukda (a decadent bread pudding).

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

The local Baniya community's cuisine not only celebrates local ingredients but also gives the city its meticulously prepared Indian desserts, sweets, and unique street food, like chaat – spicy fried snacks.

Hidden Gems and Legacy Eateries

Nearly on every corner, there are tiny kiosks and carts – lesser-known gems that are extremely popular with the locals.

In the heart of the city of Hazratganj, throngs of people start milling around from the crack of dawn at a legendary tea stall to get a piping hot cup of milky masala chai, presented in kulhads, along with pillowy soft buns covered in hand-churned white butter.

To start the day, one can visit a unpretentious joint situated in the old city area of Aminabad. Nearly 150 years after it was established, the place is still much sought-after for its freshly fried kachoris (fried bread stuffed with lentils) and jalebis (crispy, syrup-soaked sweets).

Preserving Tradition for the Future

The city also boasts special treats of the season, such as makkhan malai, a frothy dessert available in the winter. The process of making it is intricate and involved. The vendor beats the milk and then sets it out at night, allowing the nighttime moisture to give it its amazing light consistency.

On chilly mornings, street vendors can be seen in historic neighborhoods like Aminabad and Chowk. A number of though note that their children do not want to master the skill.

A well-known culinary expert from Lucknow has often said that the city's profound food legacy places it right on top of the Indian street food experience. The significant impact from the UNESCO recognition, it is believed, will occur only if Lucknow can now create awareness about its under-the-radar eateries.

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

The global recognition, it is hoped, will motivate more people globally to discover these narratives and travel to the city to savour the culinary delights of Lucknow.