Lucknawi food connoisseurs hail UNESCO recognition

It's 'der aaye, durust aaye' for Lucknow, according to prominent chefs and food connoisseurs as they hailed the long overdue recognition for 'Lakhnawi cuisine' with the Uttar Pradesh capital officially inducted among the UNESCO creative cities for 'Gastronomy'.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

It is also a validation of Lucknow's culinary traditions and rich history that have enchanted locals and visitors alike with the symphony of flavours that showcase a 'mini-India', they said.

"Better late than never. This recognition to Lucknow was expected. I think it is a very long delayed honour, which has come to Lucknow, because this is one city of India which is considered to be the Mecca of Gourmet," Pushpesh Pant, the president of Cuisine Society of India, told PTI.

"Other cities may have equal claims. Some people may say Hyderabad or Delhi. But the fact of the matter is that there is a strong Lucknow connection everywhere, he said.

Pant said that Lucknow is not only an inheritor to Nawabi food, but is a melting pot of several vegetarian rural streams like "Bania, Khatri, Brahmin, as well as Dalit".

"It truly is mini-India, including Prabasi Bengali, Kashmiris and pre-partition Punjabis and Khatris," he said.

Prominent chef Ranveer Brar, who hails from Lucknow, said, "Der aaye, durust aaye. This recognition by UNESCO was long overdue for Lucknow. It validates the city's deep culinary heritage and the love we hold for our food."