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

The northern Indian city of Lucknow has forever been a dream destination for epicures, with locals and visitors equally celebrating its exquisite cuisine.

Worldwide Recognition

Recently, Unesco honored it as a UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy – including it in a exclusive group of world cities and sparking hopes that it will highlight Lucknow's peerless food. With this title, it becomes part of a worldwide network of over 400 urban centers across over 100 countries focused on promoting "innovation as a driver of sustainable urban development".

The honor "demonstrates its profound gastronomic legacy and lively food ecosystem," as noted by a representative from Unesco's regional bureau for South Asia.

Lucknow is just the second Indian city – following Hyderabad, which was picked in 2019 – to find a place in this prestigious list of 70 cities around the world.

A City Defined by Food

The accolade for this historic city arrives as hardly a shock to its locals or avid food lovers. Many share the sentiment that it is "better late than never".

With the UNESCO designation, this beloved, lively, and diverse city – the capital of India's most populous state – is finally in the global gaze for what has always characterized its heart: an unparalleled love for food.

"'What's for dinner, how will it be cooked' is a continued conversation from morning until going to bed in most homes," explains a local cultural expert. "And you are truly judged by the quality of food that emerges from your kitchen."

A Royal Culinary Legacy

The Nawabi City – as it's popularly called after its 18th and 19th Century opulent Muslim rulers – is famed for its melt-in-the-mouth kebabs and a unique take on biryani that were conceived, evolved, and raised to exquisite levels in their opulent kitchens.

These royal kitchens were epicenters of gastronomic creativity, merging Iranian and local Indian styles to create what became known as the cuisine of Awadh.

It was in that period that Lucknow's most famous kebabs were developed. The story goes that the galouti kebab was created to cater to an elderly nawab who had lost his teeth. His culinary artists minced the meat with raw papaya, kesar, and spices and made it so soft that it required no chewing.

But perhaps the most significant contribution of the chefs of Awadh was the slow-cook Dum pukht technique, where food is prepared on a low, slow heat, with the pot's lid tightly closed with dough.

A Diverse Culinary Landscape

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

However, Lucknow is not just about kebabs and biryani – the region is also a vegetarian's paradise.

The local traditionally vegetarian community's cuisine not only highlights seasonal produce but also offers the city its highly curated Indian desserts, sweets, and unique street food, like chaat – zesty fried snacks.

Iconic Stalls and Historic Shops

Virtually on countless corners, there are tiny kiosks and carts – little-known delights that are extremely popular with the locals.

In the heart of the city of Hazratganj, throngs of people start assembling from the crack of dawn at a famous tea stall to get a steaming cup of spiced tea with milk, presented in kulhads, along with incredibly soft buns slathered with freshly churned white butter.

For breakfast, one can make their way to a no-frills joint situated in the historic quarter of Aminabad. Almost 150 years after it was founded, 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 unique seasonal delights, such as makkhan malai, a frothy dessert found in the winter. The method of making it is intricate and complicated. The artisan hand-churns the milk and then sets it out at night, allowing the nighttime moisture to give it its incredible light consistency.

On chilly mornings, street vendors are often seen in historic neighborhoods like Aminabad and Chowk. A number of though say that their younger generation are reluctant to master the craft.

A renowned chef from Lucknow has often said that the city's rich food legacy positions it right on top of the Indian street food experience. The true benefit from the UNESCO recognition, however, will materialize only if Lucknow can now build recognition about its under-the-radar eateries.

Every dish in Lucknow tells a story – influenced by family-run food businesses, from humble street carts to lively restaurants, and secret family recipes.

The worldwide honor, it is believed, will inspire more people around the world to explore these narratives and travel to the city to taste the culinary delights of Lucknow.