About Duchess Of Delhi

The Mughal period in South Asia was a time of great power, culture, beautiful art and grand architecture. It began when a descendant of Genghis Khan, Prince Babur, conquered a vast amount of the Indian subcontinent in the early 16th century. Persians referred to this period as ‘mughal,’ and Babur was therefore the first Mughal Emperor. Babur’s grandson Akbar continued to develop the massive Mughal Empire, extending their territory and eventually ruling the majority of India and Pakistan. It was Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan, however, that arguably developed the rich and luxurious Mughal heritage. His liking for expensive jewels materialised in the form of luxurious monuments, mosques and temples. Shah Jahan also created one of the Seven Wonders of the World in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal; the grand Taj Mahal of India. Interestingly, emperors were traditionally weighed every year, and their equivalent weight in gold would be donated to the poor.

“Mughal cuisine represents the height of culinary excellence.”
– National and Regional Styles of Cookery, Alan Davidson

Mughal feasts were extravagant affairs, with lots of fruit, nut and creamy dishes, garnished with gold and silver leaf. Some dishes were hot as they extra chilli and valuable spices such as saffron were added for their healing properties. In Recipes from the Middle East and Beyond, Sabrina Ghayour explains that, “The Mughals were incredibly lavish, decadent and indulgent in everything they did and Mughlai cuisine was a spectacle to behold. The feasts were always elaborate with a wide variety of dishes. The cuisine is strongly influenced by the Persian cuisine of Iran and made popular the combinations of meat and poultry with fruits and nuts, which were thought of as incredibly opulent and luxurious”. A creamy korma-like dish was said to be popular during this time.

“During the Mughal period in India, murals were a prominent feature of castles and palaces.”
– The Empire of the Great Mughals, Annemarie Schimmel

The Duchess of Delhi embraces the traditional, lavish Mughal period with aspects of modernity. The restaurant draws inspiration from Shah Jahan’s “peacock throne” for its floor decoration, the Mughal’s creation of chess for the lounge area’s board games, and their wealth in the luxurious, gold decor. Most importantly, the food is fit for an Emperor or Duchess!