Lucknow: The foodie’s paradise chosen as India’s nominee for UNESCO’s creative city of gastronomy

Lucknow: Often referred to as the "City of Nawabs," Lucknow is well-known for its regal culture, lengthy history, and—above all—for delectable Awadhi food. Now, by formally seeking to join UNESCO's 'Creative Cities Network' (UCCN) under the category of Gastronomy, this historic city is taking a significant step to put its culinary legacy on the map of the world.

UCCN was founded in 2004 to honor cities that have demonstrated extraordinary flair in the world of arts, culture, and—in this case—gastronomy. The distinctive Awadhi food of Lucknow, with its fragrant biryanis, slow-cooked kebabs, and delectable desserts, makes it an ideal nominee.

The Department of Culture and Tourism in the Uttar Pradesh government has been entrusted has been tasked to apply for the same at UNESCO.

Senior state government officials say that in addition to the world-famous Chikankari and Banarasi sarees found in Lucknow, there are other delights such as Tunday's Kebab- a star dish that has gained global recognition. Similarly, Lucknow's chaat, khasta, jalebi, kachauri, and kulfi have also taken centre stage now.

Roshan Jacob, divisional commissioner (Lucknow), described the city's culinary culture as an ‘infinite treasure trove of mouthwatering meals’ that would entice anyone's taste buds.

Well, you will be mistaken if you think that Lucknow is a paradise only for non-vegetarian eaters. Vegetarian dishes such as Durga Ke Khaste and Bajpai ki Puri, among others, may leave you spellbound. Also, no meal is complete without Lucknow's delectable desserts, including Malai Paan, Jalebi, Imarti, and Motichur ki Laddu. Around 480 million tourists visit Lucknow each year- and mind you, food is definitely one of the top elements on their bucket list.

"However, we aim to earn a name for Lucknow as a city in the non-veg category because we have a wide range of mutton and chicken kebabs, different types of biryani, mutton and chicken recipes, and a lot more,” said Mukesh Meshram, principal secretary, tourism and culture.