"The realization that the food I grew up eating and the food my mother has been cooking for the last 65 years or so was a heritage food, came to me when a good friend Pritha pointed out that 'you have no idea what you are cooking and eating!' It was a fact we were oblivious to until she showcased my home food in a popular Kolkata restaurant and the response that came out of it."
Ever since there has been no looking back. Born in Calcutta's oldest Shia Muslim family drawing her lineage from the Royal family of Awadh, Manzilat Fatima is the daughter of Dr. Kaukub Qudr Meerza, grandson of King Birjis Qudr son of Jaan e Alam Wajid Ali Shah and Begum Hazrat Mahal (Queen of Awadh and freedom fighter of India's First War of Independence).
Manzilat's website- www.manzilatfa...
Location- Rubi Enterprise, Plot-1 Phase-3, Kasba Industrial Estate, Anandapur, East Kolkata Township, near Bank of Maharashtra, Kolkata, West Bengal 700107
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Contact number for booking - +91 94329 13204 ( Whatsapp only)
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The Royal Family of Awadh
When one hails from a royal and rich heritage like Awadh's, one is bound by a lot of commitment and conviction to take forward the legacy of its ancestors. Apart from the rich cultural heritage of Awadh and that of Wajid Ali Shah's contribution to poetry, art, music, and dance. Awadh to a poet may have looked like a beautiful bride in all its niceties. In the middle of 19th century during the reign of Wajid Ali Shah, Awadh touched its zenith in patronage to all forms of arts including poetry, dance, drama, music, food and Ganga Jamni Tehzeeb (the social harmony and mutual respect between all citizens irrespective of their religion or caste) of which Lucknow was the centre.
Food in Awadh was like a sport for the Nawabs, and the kitchens like the fields with Bawarchis and Rakabdars as the players! There was healthy competition, and challenges were thrown at each other to exhibit better gastronomic skills. A lot of money was spent in maintaining the Royal kitchens and for hiring the best experts available from the culinary field.
No wonder when the King had to leave his beloved kingdom and travel out of Lucknow, he was deeply saddened and depressed for leaving behind his dear people and his life there. But he couldn't just walk away without taking with him the things he loved most, so that even if the place was an alien land, at least the environment and ambiance similar to his kingdom could be recreated someplace else, giving him the homely feel.
So King Wajid Ali Shah's entourage of musicians, dancers and poets along with sports like kite-flying, cock-fighting, and last but not the least his Royal kitchen were called upon.
Gradually Matiaburj, the suburban area of Calcutta started to grow into a miniature of his beloved Lucknow. The Royal kitchen started off and one can see the influence of the circumstances and situation of the times showing on the food.
One major change that the popular Awadhi Biryani underwent was the inclusion of potato. During that period, potato was a luxury to be afforded by the Royalty and was not too popular with the common people. That was one historic twist to the classic Awadhi Biryani. In due course, the Nawabi food, especially the Biryani, as opposed to the Awadhi pulaos caught the palate of the Muslim populace of Bengal!
Soon Biryani took over celebrations all across Calcutta. Today, Biryani is undoubtedly the staple and most favorite food of both Muslims and Non-Muslims alike!
#manzilatbiryani #foodvlogs #kolkatabiryani #kolkata #kolkatafood #manzilatfatima
20 авг 2024
