Dehlnavi Dawat Festival Serves Nostalgic Delhi Taste
ITC Narmada Brings the Timeless Flavours of Old Delhi to Ahmedabad with a Dehlnavi Dawat Festival
Ahmedabad, March 13, 2026: From March 14–22, ITC Narmada, a posh collection hotel in Ahmedabad, will hold a unique Dehlnavi Dawat honouring the rich culinary traditions of Old Delhi at its famous all-day cafe, Adalaj Pavilion. Visitors will be able to fully immerse themselves in the historical culinary culture of the capital through the food festival. The festival will be served over a dinner buffet that is open from 7 to 11:30 p.m. and features slow-cooked treats with strong street-inspired flavours that have long been a part of Shahjahanabad’s culinary heritage.
Chef Mohammad Mofid, a senior master chef from Sheraton Delhi, will oversee the culinary exhibition. He comes from a family of chefs in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, and is a master in Awadhi and Dehlnavi cuisine. Chef Mofid has developed a sophisticated mastery of Dehlnavi cuisine after starting his culinary career at home and learning traditional cooking from his parents. Additionally, Chef Mofid has been actively involved in marketing Indian food abroad, helping to establish a market for genuine Dehlnavi tastes on worldwide culinary venues.
“At ITC Narmada, we constantly strive to bring authentic regional culinary traditions to our guests,” stated Executive Chef Sumeet Rohela. The Dehlnavi Dawat is a celebration of Old Delhi‘s multifaceted culinary legacy, which has been formed by busy bazaars, history, and tried-and-true recipes.
We are thrilled to provide dishes that encapsulate the powerful tastes and rustic warmth that characterise Dehlnavi cuisine, providing guests in Ahmedabad with a genuinely immersive culinary experience thanks to Chef Mofid’s curating.
With a carefully chosen assortment of dishes, the festival menu honours the multi-layered culinary traditions of Old Delhi. The revitalising Mohabbat Ka Sherbet, a traditional Old Delhi beverage prepared with milk and rose, will be served to guests. The experience starts with a colourful chaat counter that evokes the vibrant street food culture of the capital and serves staples like Kulle Ki Chaat, Dahi Gujiya, and Aloo Ki Tikki.
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, are among the starters that feature both vegetarian and non-vegetarian treats.
The main course includes a variety of hearty and cosy dishes like Kunni Dal, a slow-cooked mixture of Bengal gram and black lentils, Hing Dhaniye Ke Chatpate Aloo, baby potatoes tossed with asafoetida and fenugreek seeds, Lehsooni Palak Motia, cottage cheese dumplings in a velvety garlic-flavoured spinach gravy, and Paneer Laung Latika, stuffed cottage cheese slices sealed with cloves.
Nimona Mirch Pulao, a fragrant basmati rice dish enhanced with whole green chiles and pea paste, is one of the rice recipes.
The non-vegetarian treats include Sarai Ki Gosht Biryani, which combines lamb and basmati rice with whole spices and is finished with crisp angel-hair onions; Murg Ishtoo, which is tender chicken flavoured with whole spices in a curd and tomato gravy; and Gosht Nihari, which is prime cuts of lamb cooked in a rich brown onion and saffron gravy.
Traditional desserts like Motia Zarda, fragrant sweetened basmati rice subtly scented with saffron and khoya dumplings, and Shahi Tukra, saffron-soaked bread served with sweetened condensed milk, round out the meal.
“Old Delhi’s streets, families, and centuries-old culinary traditions are all reflected in Dehlnavi cuisine. Many of the meals served at this event are based on recipes that have been passed down through the centuries and refined via careful spice balancing and long cooking. Chef Mofid stated, “With this menu, I hope guests can experience the authenticity, nostalgia, and depth of flavour that make Delhi food so beloved.”
ITC Narmada hopes to introduce Ahmedabad to the nostalgia, generosity, and timeless flavours of Old Delhi’s renowned culinary traditions through this time-limited culinary exhibition.