Lucknow, Renowned For Awadhi Cuisine, Is India’s Official Nominee For UNESCO Creative City For Gastronomy

Blending Nawabi sophistication with rich North Indian flavours, Lucknow is a haven for food lovers! Be it the aromatic biryanis and melt-in-the-mouth kebabs or sweet delicacies like malai gilori and imarti, the city’s food is a celebration of tradition, taste, and time-honoured techniques. So, it only made sense that Lucknow became India’s official nominee for UNESCO Creative City For Gastronomy. Scroll on to know more about this.

Lucknow Nominated For UNESCO’s Creative City of Gastronomy

Whether you stop by an eatery in the bustling lanes of Chowk or the upscale restaurants of Hazratganj, every bite in Lucknow tells a story steeped in history and flavour! Known for its rich culinary heritage, the city has been the go-to favourite of foodies across the country. Now, India has officially nominated Lucknow under the category Gastronomy for Awadhi Cuisine to UNESCO Creative City.

Uttar Pradesh’s Department of Culture and Tourism was tasked to apply for UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy for Lucknow and provide all the necessary data by the end of June. If all things go well, then Lucknow will officially establish the claim of being a foodie paradise!

While talking to Hindustan Times, Mukesh Meshram, Principal Secretary of the state’s Tourism & Culture Department, mentioned that they aim to establish a name for Lucknow as a city in the non-veg category across the world. He mentioned that the city has a wide range of mutton and chicken kebabs, different variants of biryani, and more for food lovers to try.

Not just that, they also plan to highlight the city’s famous desserts, chaat, and different types of vegetarian dishes in their nomination. From Durga Ke khaste and Bajpai ki Puri to the city’s famous motichoor laddu, malai paan, jalebi and imarti–everything will be underscored in the report.

Also Read: Chef Mohsin Qureshi Brings Back The Lost Nalli Shahi Qorma, A Nawabi Treasure From Lucknow; Recipe Inside

Here’s What Will Happen Next

As we mentioned, if all things go well at UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy, then the world will also get to know about the awesomeness of Lucknow’s culinary landscape. For a little better understanding, just like India grants a Geographical Indication (GI) tag to food or products originating from a specific location and possessing qualities or reputation due to that origin, UNESCO’s recognition works along the same line. After the nomination is filed with all the necessary data and paperwork, UNESCO is likely to send a team to verify the claims and take them forward accordingly.

Also Read: Beyond Shami & Galouti, Lucknow Is Also Known For Shahi Parcha Kebab That Are Cooked In Rich Cream & Rose Petals

Which is one Lucknowi dish that you love the most? Let us know in the comments!

Cover Image Courtesy: website/incredibleindia & Flickr (representative image)