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Delhi is a foodie's paradise.Yes, you heard it right. It is the city of an unending variety of food from all over the world. Delhi is a blend of history, culture, and food and eating out in Delhi is not just a culinary experience -it's a crash course in gastronomy.

The history of Delhi holds the accountability for scrumptious food there because every invader
(the Mughals, the Britishers, etc) who came to India, for a shorter or longer period left the taste of their food and culture behind.Being the food capital of India you will find every kind of food from every corner of the country and from all around the world. From Punjab ke chole bhature to Rajasthan ki kachauri to Bombay ki paw bhaji and what not.

Renaissance Lucknow is celebrating the street cuisine of Delhi this month from 5th to 14th May under chef Balvinder pal Singh Lubana in their ongoing food fest named as Delhi 6 ka Zaika.The name itself says what's on the list as the number 6 refers to the postal code of Chandni Chowk of old Delhi.

I have visited Delhi numerous times but unfortunately never got the chance to fully explore the sinful mouth-watering food at Chandni chowk but thanks to Renaissance, they have covered every bit and corner of the Delhi 6. Chandani chowk is the most fascinating part of Delhi situated near the legendary Jama masjid and other monuments, known for its food and market. Chandani chowk has a massive paratha walla gali (where you get every kind of paratha. Just name it!), the very famous Kareem's(known for its palatable Mughlai food), JB kachori wala and many such places.

At Renaissance, the chef was so kind to introduce, each and every dish to us in brief from its origin to the recipe.Here is an exclusive list of delectables which we had during the preview dinner of the fest.

 1. Bael ka sharbat: A fresh and tangerine juice extracted from Bael also known as wood apple was served in a test tube. Bael is known for treating indigestion and constipation. It is said that Delhi people are a hardcore food lover and they use it as a cleanser between their meals.




2. Aam Panna: The best Aam Panna I ever had in my life. It had a perfect tangy taste of raw mango and a perfect summer drink to beat the heat stroke and dehydration. It was also presented in a test tube to enjoy them in small shots.





3. Bao: A traditional Tibetan street food, steamed and filled with meat or vegetable.The bun was soft, juicy, perfectly steamed and filled with minced chicken.They steamed and served it in a bamboo basket which gave it a very subtle woody scent.Though I had it for the first time but I loved it.





4. Rajma chawal: I think no north Indian needs an introduction to Rajma chawal but if you are still unaware of the Rajma chawal then you are definitely kidding.It is an important meal in Delhi houses and streets and also serves as a great meal in their lunch boxes. The rajma was well cooked, perfectly spiced up and was served with jeera rice and achaar.




5. Tangari chicken kebab: A typical Mughal dish found in every by lanes of old Delhi is not just a kebab or Tikki but a chicken leg piece marinated in Indian spices and yogurt and grilled in tandoor. It was served in an aluminum vessel with coal ignited inside the vessel to give it a smokey aroma.




6. Golgappa shots: No street in Delhi is complete without golgappa stalls also known as puchka, pani puri, batashe, and gupchup in other part of India and is everyone's favorite.The golgappa were presented to us in a very unique way, they were filled with white chick pea and were placed over shot glasses filled with different types of water-khatta and meetha. The gol gappas were crisp and the water had amazing flavors.




7. Basket wali chaat : It is a typical crunchy and crispy potato tikki chaat served in a potato wafer or basket which is obviously edible. The chef kept the originality of the chaat but there was no sweet yogurt, unlike the chaat we have here in Lucknow.




8. Papdi chaat: A fusion of chickpeas, potatoes, yogurt and crisp papdi.The chef served us small papdis topped off with the chaat which had a perfect zing, tang, and spiciness.




9. Amritsari kulcha: Baked or tandoori parathas from the paratha wali gali was one thing that tempted me the most. It was decently stuffed with potato and paneer. They were neither too heavy and nor too oily like the usually stuffed parantha. It was served with a piquant chutney made of tamarind and mango.The chef gave chutney a twist by adding diced onion and chili to it.




10. Sugar chocolate parathan: Have you ever been bluffed by your mother in the name of sweets in your Lunchbox. Yes,  I am talking about the same meetha parathan/ sheera parantha which some of us used to get in our lunch box. Sheera/caramel is drizzled over the slightly salted parathas, giving it a sweety-salty taste. The chef also gave it a firangi twist by drizzling some chocolate syrup also and made it even more interesting by serving them with ice cream.




11. Bharwan parathan: A super tempting and crispy bharwan parathan is also found majorly in every street of Delhi. It was filled with daal and served with yogurt and green chutney. They were thick and soft.




12. Mirch ka halwa: Till that time I have never heard of "Mirch ka Halwa" before in my entire life and was so hesitant to have it for the first time. But to my surprise, it was good. A perfect combination of khoya and subtle flavor of mirch. It was served in a bowl garnished with almonds and dry raisins.




13. Kheer:  My most favorite rice pudding dessert is made with rice, milk and lots and lots of love. Again the chef kept the originality of the dish. The kheer had a thick consistency and was perfectly sweetened.It was served in a bowl garnished with almonds.




14. Cocktail Samosa: How can we forget our most famous, loved and favorite snack of all time "samosa".They were crisp and stuffed with potatoes and green peas.They were served with a red tangy chutney in a dropper tube.




Had an amazing experience at the renaissance L-14 "Delhi 6 ka zaika" food fest.

DATE: 5th - 14th may
TIME: 7:30 pm onwards.

Do share your views and thoughts in the comment box below. Also, share your experience at Renaissance Lucknow and how you liked the food there. They are waiting to serve you.

Stay tuned until next.