Mughal Dynasty

During the Mughal era, Delhi’s food culture was heavily influenced by Persian and Central Asian cuisine. The Mughals were known for their love of food, and they brought with them the art of cooking and the use of spices. Mughlai cuisine is still popular in Delhi today, with dishes like biryani, kebabs, and nihari being some of the best food the city has to offer.

British Rule

As Delhi became the seat of British colonial power in India in the 19th century, the city’s food culture underwent further changes. British colonizers brought with them their own food traditions, such as tea and bread, which were adopted by the locals. The British also introduced new ingredients and cooking techniques, such as the use of baking powder and refined sugar.

Post-Independence

After India gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, Delhi’s food culture continued to evolve. The post-independence era saw the emergence of new dishes that were a fusion of Indian and Western cuisines. For example, butter chicken, a popular dish in Delhi today, is believed to have originated in the 1950s and is a combination of Indian spices and Western-style tomato sauce. After independence, Delhi’s food culture saw a new wave of migration from all over India. People from different parts of the country brought with them their regional cuisines, which led to the creation of new dishes and flavors.

Present Day

Today, Delhi is considered the food capital of India, with a wide range of cuisines available. From street food to fine dining, Delhi has something to offer everyone. The city is known for its chaat, paranthas, chole bhature, and butter chicken.

One of the most significant changes in Delhi’s food culture in recent years has been the rise of street food. Street food vendors offer a wide range of affordable and delicious dishes, such as chaat, golgappe, and chole bhature. These dishes have become an integral part of Delhi’s food culture and are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

Another notable trend in Delhi’s food culture is the rise of fusion cuisine. Many chefs in Delhi are experimenting with new ingredients and cooking techniques to create fusion dishes that combine different flavors and cultures. For example, restaurants in Delhi offer dishes such as sushi rolls filled with Indian spices and butter chicken pizza.

Conclusion

Delhi’s food culture has come a long way from its Mughal roots. The influence of various cultures and cuisines has made Delhi’s food scene diverse and unique. Today, Delhi is considered the food capital of India, and rightly so. With its rich history and diverse culture, Delhi’s food scene is one of the best in the world. This blog post has covered the evolution of Delhi’s food culture, starting from the Mughal dynasty till the present time. With so many different dishes and flavors, Delhi’s food scene is a must-try for anyone visiting the city.

The post The great evolution of Delhi’s food culture appeared first on Delhi Messenger.

For working professionals and students, eating at least one meal out is customary. However, if one were to go to the corporate hubs in Delhi, Noida, or Gurgaon, they would find very few places that are affordable for those who want to eat out almost every day.

It seems that some Indians, who are passionate about bringing good quality yet affordable food, have been inspired by the western show Eat Street and have started with their food trucks in India. One may argue that food trucks always existed, the ones that sold desi-Chinese food.

But these new-age trucks are the real deal as they don’t remain stationary and can even be tracked using GPS, in some cases. Also, their food counters are manned by professional chefs and not your local halwai.

While the trend has been picking up everywhere, it’s very popular in Gurgaon and Noida and is coming up in a big way in Delhi too. And with hotels and restaurants like The Lalit, Punjab Grill, and Kylin also coming up with their trucks, they are becoming much more acceptable to the customers as well.

The prime attraction of eating at a food truck is that it serves restaurant-quality hygienic food at a fast speed and at prices that are much lower than when you go to a sit-down restaurant for a meal.

Ankur Gupta, co-owner of Drifter’s Café, which is usually seen in Gurgaon’s Sector 29, says: “If you look at Zomato reviews, our food ranks higher than restaurants around here. Moreover, it isn’t too expensive and you get such a wide range to choose from.”

The truck serves Southeast Asian food from various countries and is also stationed at various events and festivals around Gurgaon. Gupta says that he has parked his truck in Gurgaon because the crowd is well-traveled and more receptive to the food truck concept as seen in the Hollywood film, Chef.

The food trucks around

The secret behind the cheap yet great food at food trucks is revealed by Yadu Virendra Yadav, co-owner of the three Oh Buoy food trucks which operate in various areas of Noida and Gurgaon.

“Our food is in the range of Rs 80 to Rs150. In spite of serving Mexican and Italian food, which are generally more expensive, we can sell our food cheap as we sell out of a truck and not a restaurant. And people from the offices and universities around want that kind of good yet affordable food,” Yadav says.

Most of these trucks have been operational for not more than two years. And even in such a short span, these trucks have come forward with various different kinds of food. For instance, there is Eggjacktly, which serves a variety of dishes with egg in it. They also own Sushi House Mafia. Then there is Dosa Inc which serves South Indian fare. Frugurpop is another one and it stands out because it isn’t a food truck but an ice-cream truck.

Co-owner Pallavi Kuchroo tells you: “We have a GPS-enabled van that one can track to find our location. We serve about 10 flavours of popsicles right now and it’s great to see that they are really being appreciated. I started this truck because I knew that this is something that’s coming up and also because no one is doing anything in the natural ice-cream segment yet.”

Is it profitable?

Not only are these food trucks very much in vogue, but they are also quite profitable. Pankaj Mallik, guest service associate, at The Lalit Food Truck Company, says that they have many regulars and the business runs very well. At a food festival, they can even serve up to 30,000 people in one day while on regular days, they can earn almost Rs20,000 for each of their two trucks. Yadav also says that on average, each of his trucks generates 100-150 bills and there may be four-five people buying food on the same bill.

However, owning and managing a food truck is no easy feat. Gupta tells you that in terms of licensing, there are no laws — it’s a grey area for food trucks. “The food truck concept is very new for the Government. As there is no separate food truck category, I acquired licenses for a commercial truck and a restaurant. Moreover, parking is not regulated for food trucks. Many more trucks will come up if the government regulates it,” he says.

The problems

Other owners agree. “Parking and licensing is definitely a problem. Since The Lalit Hotel takes care of those things for us, we get permission from NDMC to park on the roadside or we just park outside our hotel,” Mallik says.

Though the clientele usually consists of young working professionals or students, families are also often seen. It helps that a lot of people have started eating out more than once a week and are, therefore, looking for the cheapest and best options considering eating in a restaurant has become expensive.

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These women have fought back for life and have managed to survive in this unfair world and through heinous chemical burns. These women are ‘fighters with scars’. The scars on the body can go but those on the soul can never.

Sheroes is located opposite the Taj Mahal in Agra. It is an effort of the NGO Chaanv that is working with the Stop Acid Attacks campaign. The initiative was first started in the year 2013 in the national capital. Through this movement, a new wave of feminism can be witnessed at Sheroes.

Women, who are considered the epitome of beauty and love, are now trying to show society that even without so-called physical beauty they can change the world.  

Changes are not brought about on empty stomachs, so you can get a variety of eatable to munch and think over the issue at the cafe run by these warriors. While talking to one of the acid attack victims, Anjali, I got to know that majority of acid attack cases take place where literacy is still not much.

‘An attempt to fulfill dreams’

“We too have many dreams and Sheroes is an attempt to fulfill all our dreams,” said Rupa a 23-year-old survivor. 

The activism workshop gives computer training to girls and helps them to use social media as an ultimate tool of empowerment. At Sheroes, these survivors have also been taught about legal knowledge, judicial and political awareness as part of the initiative.

We can hope and help in the development of many more Sheroes. The revolution has begun but it is still waiting for us to join hands.

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So, what is veganism? The London-based educational charity Vegan Society defines veganism as “a way of living which seeks to exclude as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose”. Vegans believe in the emancipation of animals from exploitation by human beings and eliminating all kinds of products derived from animals from their lives. And it is not limited to just food. It extends to fashion, clothing, medication, and household items. People are often mistaken that being a vegan and a vegetarian are the same thing. The difference lies in the fact that while a vegetarian will have animal-based products like milk, a vegan will not. Vegans depend on non-animal sources of protein.

The vegan diet has already entered the mainstream. A few restaurants now have vegan dishes on their menu. But it is important to remember that veganism is not just about food habits. It is a lifestyle.

However, switching to veganism is not an overnight affair. Meghna, from Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation (FIAPO), says that it needs a lot of self control and discipline. “For a meat-eater like me, switching over was quite difficult in the beginning,” she says. However, she was determined to stick to her commitment. And now she has been a happy vegan for five years.

More and more people are now consciously adopting a vegan lifestyle. The number is higher among people who are animal lovers and environmentalists. And for some, it is out of necessity that they switch to veganism. Jitin Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Jus’ Amazing, entered into the market of making dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and lactose-free butters because his son is lactose intolerant. He realised that many like his son do not have options in the market when it comes to food. He researched and found out that not many companies are catering to this niche market and decided to enter this business himself. He does agree that these products are expensive than other commonly used ones because they are organic.

A touch of glamour has been added to veganism due to the celebrity touch. Bollywood stars Shahid Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, Sonam Kapoor, and Aamir Khan turned vegan and have acknowledged that their overall health has improved. Indian cricket skipper Virat Kohli, the latest entry to this list, said in an interview that his performance has improved since he adopted veganism. Endorsement by such influencers has certainly helped in countering the self-depriving image of veganism.

Studies show that people who follow vegan diets tend to be less susceptible to chronic diseases as compared to people on a meat diet. Amrita Balaji, a content developer who plans to open her own vegan bakery, thinks that veganism might be expensive in the beginning. “But in the long run you end up paying less to the doctor!” she says.

A vegan diet consists of grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. These are low in saturated fat and high in fibre, magnesium, vitamin C, and iron. However, an unbalanced vegan diet may lead to nutritional deficiencies which may lead to health problems. For instance, vitamin B12 is found only in poultry products. Moreover, cutting out meat from your diet is not going to lead to a healthier body if all you end up eating are potatoes. Therefore, it is necessary to have proper planning, in consultation with a nutritionist, before starting the vegan regime. And the transition should be gradual.

Additionally, if you have some illness, it becomes increasingly difficult. At times, the recommended foods and prescribed medicines contain animal products. Even the Vegan Society does not recommend one to avoid medication prescribed by their doctor as “adead vegan is no good to anyone”.

What are the foods you can have in a vegan diet? Indian cuisine has so many options for vegans! Cereals, legumes, pulses, and sprouts are the staple diet in an Indian home. And many people in India are lacto-vegetarian. Thus, a meat-free diet is actually quite easy to follow in India. It helps if you cook your own meal so that you can control the ingredients that go into the dish. Depending only on processed food is going to be heavier on your purse and might not be that beneficial.

For your protein needs, you can consume legumes and soy products. Almonds, cashews, sesame seeds, and dried fruits are high in calcium. If you have a sweet tooth, you can have fruit-based gelatos instead of ice creams. Coconut milk, almond milk or soy milk can replace your usual milk. 

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Spain has some beautiful produce, a treat for the taste buds as well as the eyes. Markets like the La Boqueria in Barcelona and the San Miguel in Madrid are places where any food enthusiast can spend many blissful hours. Starting from candies, to fresh fruit and juice, to the best seafood and meat, these markets have the best of everything.

Then, there’s TAPAS. In case you don’t know what tapas are, they are Spanish appetizers and are immensely popular not just in Spain but in many other parts of the world now. They contain cheeses, meats and/or seafood, and are served either hot or cold.

One of my favourite Spanish foods is definitely gazpacho. It’s a cool and refreshing cold soup, ideal for not only Mediterranean summers, but great in the Delhi heat too! Fun fact, my homemade gazpacho tasted exactly like the ones I had in Spain.

But my favourite Spanish dish is definitely PAELLA (pronounced paa-ae-ya)! It’s basically a Spanish risotto, and the seafood version tastes best. It is prepared and served in a cast iron skillet. So make sure you don’t burn yourself on it (I learnt this the hard way)! Unfortunately, I do not have a great picture of paella; by the time it reached my table, I was starved after walking around the city all day long.

As for Madrid, there are definitely some recommended dishes online, but not all of them live up to expectations. I had read a great deal about the calamari sandwiches at Plaza Mayor. Trust me, they were disgusting!

One thing you CANNOT miss are the mushrooms in Sol. Very close to San Miguel market, there is a restaurant that has posters of its very popular mushrooms. You can’t miss the signs, neither can you afford to miss these delicious, juicy, mushrooms.

And while enjoying these delicacies, don’t miss out on the sangrias. After all, would a trip to Spain be complete without some delicious sangrias?

Ice-creams and desserts are abundant, and you can find great desserts almost anywhere in these two cities. The churros, with melted chocolate, are a must-have.

Oh, do remember to set aside half a day for brunch at the amazing Brunch N Cake. It is definitely worth the long queue.

P.S. I would highly recommend NOT going to Burger King, McDonalds or KFC. You can get a freshly-made, much more delicious burger at a small local cafe.

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Phoolwalon ki sair, which literally translates to a procession of the florists, is an annual ritual celebrated by the flower sellers in Delhi. It is a week-long festival in which all the flower sellers participate with equal fervour. They pray for a healthier flower crop in the next season

The procession starts from Chandni Chowk and goes all the way to Mehrauli. The participants of the procession carry huge floral fans or pankhas. These pankhas are offered at the Dargah of Bakhtiyar Kaki in Mehrauli along with a floral chaadar, asheet made of flowers. A pankha and a floral canopy (chattra) are also offered at the Yogmaya temple. This ritual dates back to 1812 when Akbar Shah II was on the throne. Phoolwalon ki sair has come to be seen as a secular festival exhibiting the cultural and religious harmony between the residents of the city.

The festival is also known as Sair-e-Gul Faroshan.

When: 11th–-17th November, 2018

Where: Various (a detailed programme schedule can be found here.

Horn Ok Please (Food Truck Festival)

This is one of the most-awaited food festivals in Delhi. Only a year old, Horn OK Please has had three editions by now. You can find a plethora of food trucks here, with some biggies like the Woodbox Cafe, Waffle King, Moktoo, and Woks and Pans. Also look out for Kebab Gully, Dessert Lane, and Momo Land. Grub Campus (where every dish is under Rs 200) is very popular with college students. Apart from food, the fest will also have some cool experience zones with trampolines, segway, and skateboarding. One can also enjoy band performances. And that’s not all. You can get your hands on some quirky accessories and apparels in their mini flea market too!

When: 16th-18th November, 2018

Where: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Timings: 12 am– – 11 pm

Nearest Metro station(s): JLN on Violet line

India International Trade Fair (IITF)

The annual trade fair will bring hundreds of small and large enterprises under one roof. You can buy indigenous products made by handloom weavers and handicraft artisans of various states. The featured state this time is Jharkhand. Stalls by foreign participants will also be there, with Nepal being the country in focus.

The biggest attraction, as always, will be the food stalls. From Bihar’s litti chokha to Gujarat’s dhokla and khandvi, you can enjoy all sorts of delicacies here. Food stalls of countries like Pakistan and Turkey are an all time hit.

The theme pavilion this year will feature the rural enterprises of India.

Tickets will be available at select metro stations. Entry fee on working days with be ₹120 for adults and ₹6 for children. On weekends, it will be ₹60 and ₹40, respectively.

When: 18th-27th November, 2018

Where: Pragati Maidan, Gate nos. 1, 8, 10.

Timings: 9:30 am – 5 pm

Nearest metro station(s): Pragati Maidan on Blue line

Woodpecker Film Festival 2018

Lamenting over the lack of meaningful story-based cinema? Then this film festival is the perfect place for you to be. The Woodpecker International Film Festival is back with its sixth edition with an amazing line-up of movie and documentary screenings. The fest will host films from across the globe. International films like A House for the Syrians, David Attenborough’s Ant Mountain, Bullies, Wild Uganda, and Indian films such as Born Behind Bars, Gadho, Chori, and Miyan, Biwi aur Banana will be screened during the three-day fest. WIFF primarily focuses on short films and documentaries based on socially pertinent issues: gender, race, environment, and children.

It has been six years since the festival was first launched in India to mark 100 years of Indian cinema. It has never failed to amaze the audiences.

When: 23rd–25th November, 2018

Where: Siri Fort Auditorium

Nearest Metro station(s): Green Park on Yellow line, Hauz Khas on Magenta and Yellow lines

Jashn-e-Adab

Organised by the Jashn-e-Adab Foundation, this poetry festival celebrates Hindi and Urdu literature. Now in its seventh year, the weekend extravaganza will see a gathering of several renowned intellectuals and artists. The festival is well known for providing a platform to new and young artists. The line-up this year includes Anand Mohan Zutshi, Uma Sharma, Padma Shree Malti Joshi, Abhigyan Prakash, National Award-winning actor Pankaj Tripathi, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra, Shubha Mudgal, RJ Naved, and many more.

While you’’re there, do not miss the amazing ‘Lazzat’ food court.

When: 23rd–-25th November, 2018

Where: Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA)

Timings: 11 am – 9 pm

Nearest Metro station(s): Central Secretariat on Yellow and Violet lines

Delhi Queer Pride Parade

Ever since 2008, the last Sunday of November in Delhi is marked out for a congregation of people in participating in a colourful and joyous parade. The Delhi Queer Pride Parade is organised to celebrate and honour the entire queer community. People walk together, holding colourful balloons, posters, banners, and rainbow flags. The gathering has been a parade cum protest for the rights of the LGBTQ community. Now that the Supreme Court has struck down Section 377 of the Indian Constitution and has decriminalized sex between two consenting adults, it will be interesting to see the celebrations this year.

When: 25th November, 2018

Where: Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place

Timings: 3 pm

Nearest Metro station(s): Rajiv Chowk on Blue line

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One of the finest breweries in NCR, Warehouse Cafe has an amazing range of beers. The ambience is apt for putting your feet up, enjoying some beer and indulging in their delectable food options.

The Cafe recently organised an amazing Beer Festival, leaving us waiting for the next time something like this comes around. We tried three of their freshly brewed beer varieties –  wheat, premium and roasted. While the beers are a must-have refreshment for this season, we would suggest you to also try the Chilli Chicken for sure.

The bar menu is quite wide and the hookah menu also has some exciting flavours. The special features are the outdoor terrace area, a separate bar, a restaurant area and a private room and on top of that a menu that handles multi-cuisine affair of 365 dishes, one for each day of the year.

If you are looking for beer like you’ve never had before and want to give a fresh treat to your taste buds then Warehouse Café is a must try.

Quick Facts:

Meal – 1500/- (For Two)

Venue: Warehouse Cafe, Plot No. 11-12 , Leisure Valley Road, Sector 29, Gurugram.

 Time: 12 noon. To 11:30 pm

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With a wide range options for food, there is something for everyone here. The best part is that you might find some restaurants here which you’ve never heard of before but you will definitely keep going back to even after the Fest ends.

Apart from the usual suspects like Asian and Indian cuisines, you can even find Japanese and Malay restaurants here. Basically, sky is the limit.

Of course, for someone with a sweet tooth, this is a dessert haven. You can find literally all kinds of desserts here. Our personal favourite was the Special Waffle at the Ooh La La stall. You will wish you had left more space for some more dessert.

Food in Delhi is incomplete without entertainment. And to ensure that, there are awesome bands, such as Euphoria, playing here. So, even if you’re not in the mood to eat anything, you can grab a beer (yes, they do have a bar), sit on the grass and enjoy some good music and great concert vibes.

If you missed it this year, do not do so next year. The Palate Fest is held once every winter at Nehru Park.

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