Ahmedabad, March 14, 2026: ITC Narmada, a
luxury collection hotel in Ahmedabad, will host a special Dehlnavi Dawat – a food
festival celebrating the rich culinary traditions of Old Delhi at its signature
all-day diner, Adalaj Pavilion, from March 14-22. The food
festival will offer guests an immersive exploration of the capital’s historic
food culture. The festival will be presented over dinner available from 7pm
to 11:30 pm, bringing together heirloom recipes, slow-cooked delicacies with
robust street-inspired flavours that have long defined the gastronomic legacy
of Shahjahanabad.
The
term ‘Dehlnavi’ or ‘Dehlvi’, meaning one from Delhi means a cuisine shaped by
centuries of cultural exchange as the city served as the seat of powerful
empires and a meeting point of diverse communities. From Emperor Akbar inviting
Persian cooks to his royal kitchens and reimagining dishes such as khichdi, to
the arrival of Marwari traders in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the
post-1947 Punjabi refugee communities popularising favourites like butter
chicken and Kunni dal, Delhi’s cuisine has continually absorbed new
influences. The legendary food lanes of Shahjahanabad, now Purani Dilli, embody
this vibrant confluence of flavours shaped by Kayastha, Baniya, Muslim and Jain
traditions.
The culinary showcase will be helmed by Chef Mohammad
Mofid, a senior master chef from Sheraton Delhi. He is an expert in Awadhi and
Dehlnavi cuisine who hails from a family of chefs from Faizabad in Uttar
Pradesh. Having begun his culinary journey at home learning traditional cooking
from his parents, Chef Mofid has a refined expertise in Dehlnavi cuisine. Chef
Mofid has also been actively involved in promoting Indian cuisine
internationally, helping carve a niche for authentic Dehlnavi flavours across
global culinary platforms.
Executive Chef Sumeet Rohela at ITC Narmada, said,
“At ITC Narmada, we constantly strive to bring authentic regional culinary
traditions to our guests. The Dehlnavi Dawat is a celebration of
the rich and layered food heritage of Old Delhi, a cuisine shaped by history,
bustling bazaars and time-tested recipes. With Chef Mofid curating this
experience, we are delighted to present dishes that capture the rustic warmth
and robust flavours that define Dehlnavi cuisine, offering diners in Ahmedabad
a truly immersive gastronomic journey.”
The
festival menu celebrates the layered culinary traditions of Old Delhi with a
carefully curated selection of dishes. Guests will be welcomed with the
refreshing Mohabbat Ka Sherbet, a classic Old Delhi beverage made with
milk and rose. The experience begins with a vibrant chaat counter featuring
favourites such as Kulle Ki Chaat, Dahi Gujiya and Aloo Ki
Tikki, evoking the lively street food culture of the capital.
The
starters highlight both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies
including Teekhe Matar Ke Kebab, pan-seared patties of spiced green peas
finished on the griddle, Jimikand Ki Malai, delicate yam patties with a
creamy texture, Sil Batte Ki Shammi, hand-pounded lamb and lentil kebabs
pan-grilled to perfection, and Quile Mohalle Ki Seekh, charcoal-finished
minced lamb kebabs inspired by the kebab houses of Old Delhi.
The
main course features a repertoire of robust and comforting preparations such
as Paneer Laung Latika, stuffed cottage cheese slices sealed with
clove, Lehsooni Palak Motia, cottage cheese dumplings in a velvety
garlic-flavoured spinach gravy, Hing Dhaniye Ke Chatpate Aloo, baby
potatoes tossed with asafoetida and fenugreek seeds, and Kunni Dal, a
slow-cooked blend of Bengal gram and black lentils. The rice preparations
include Nimona Mirch Pulao, a fragrant basmati rice dish enriched with
whole green chillies and peas mash.
The
non-vegetarian delights include Gosht Nihari, prime cuts of lamb cooked in
a rich brown onion and saffron gravy, Murg Ishtoo, tender chicken
flavoured with whole spices in caramelised onions and tomato gravy, and Sarai
Ki Gosht Biryani, where lamb and basmati rice are cooked together with whole
spices and finished with crisp onions.
The
meal concludes with traditional desserts such as Shahi Tukra,
saffron-soaked bread topped with sweetened reduced milk, and Motia Zarda,
fragrant sweetened basmati rice delicately flavoured with saffron and khoya
dumplings.
“Dehlnavi
cuisine reflects the soul of Old Delhi, its streets, its families and its
centuries-old culinary traditions. Many of the dishes served during this
festival are inspired by recipes passed down through generations and perfected
over slow cooking and careful balance of spices. Through this menu, I hope
guests can experience the authenticity, nostalgia and depth of flavour that
make the food of Delhi so beloved,” said Chef Mofid.
Through
this limited-period culinary showcase, ITC Narmada aims to bring the nostalgia,
generosity and enduring flavours of Old Delhi’s celebrated food traditions to
Ahmedabad.
