Kolkata, Nov 29: Oudh 1590, Eastern India’s first period dining restaurant, hosted a special talk session celebrating Lucknow, erstwhile Awadh, being honoured with the prestigious UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy tag. The evening brought together distinguished voices from history, cinema and the culinary world to reflect on the city’s timeless legacy and its newly recognised global stature.
The talk show took place at Oudh 1590, SaltLake, where an intimate and thoughtfully curated talk session was hosted, bringing together some of the finest minds connected to history, storytelling, cinema and gastronomy. The evening featured eminent Historian and Director of the Alipore Jail Museum, Mr Jayanta Sengupta, who moderated the show, along with acclaimed filmmaker Mr Pratim D Gupta, and the Co-Founders of Oudh 1590, Mr Shiladitya and Mr Debaditya Chaudhury.
The session began with opening remarks from the Chaudhury brothers, who acknowledged the significance of Lucknow receiving this global recognition, a milestone deeply aligned with Oudh 1590’s decade-long mission to preserve, promote and celebrate Awadhi culinary heritage in Kolkata.
Mr Jayanta Sengupta took the audience through Lucknow’s layered history from the cultural sophistication of the Awadhi courts to the refinement of its cuisine, architecture, literature and performing arts. He highlighted the centuries-old evolution of Awadhi gastronomy as a result of syncretic influences, royal patronage and the city’s perennial relationship with art, etiquette and culinary precision. His anecdotes brought alive Lucknow’s journey from the era of the Nawabs to the city’s modern renaissance, culminating in UNESCO’s recent acknowledgment.
Following his historical insights, filmmaker Mr Pratim D Gupta reflected on the influence of Lucknow’s tehzeeb, stories, and cultural mood on Indian cinema. He spoke about the ways in which Awadh’s poetic charm, its understated sophistication, and its food legacy continue to shape visual and narrative storytelling. His observations added a contemporary creative lens to the evening’s discourse, linking heritage with present-day cultural expression.
The Chaudhury brothers further shared the inspirations behind Oudh 1590’s menu, décor and mission – each element designed to preserve and present Awadhi culinary traditions with authenticity, respect and emotional depth. They emphasised that the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy recognition belongs not just to Lucknow but to everyone who has cherished and carried forward its culinary soul.
“Lucknow receiving the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy tag is not just a recognition of the city, it is a celebration of a centuries-old culinary civilisation that has inspired chefs, artists, historians, filmmakers and culture lovers across the world. At Oudh 1590, our mission has always been to preserve and honour the soul of Awadhi cuisine, and hosting this talk session reaffirms how deeply interconnected food, history and storytelling truly are. This global recognition of Lucknow’s gastronomic excellence fills us with pride and strengthens our resolve to keep bringing
Awadh’s timeless flavours and traditions to Kolkata”, said Mr Shiladitya & Mr Debaditya Chaudhury, Co-founders & Directors, Oudh 1590.
As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere was filled with warmth, nostalgia and a renewed appreciation for the extraordinary gastronomic heritage of Awadh. Guests engaged in a rich exchange on how food, history and culture remain inseparable pillars of Lucknow’s identity an identity that now finds its rightful place on the global map through UNESCO’s honour.