Jewel of Nizam, a treasure trove of Hyderabadi cuisine

The hidden secrets of the world-famous Hyderabadi cuisine have been compiled in a culinary book titled 'Jewel of Nizam', written by Geeta Devi, a woman entrepreneur and menu consultant for The Golkonda Hotel. The book was released by Textile Innovator, Laxmidevi Raj, who was the Chief Guest for the book releasing ceremony held at The Golkonda Hotel, Masab Tank on Saturday. Interestingly, the event also comes a day before the 'International Chefs Day’, which is celebrated by chefs across the world on October 20, every year.

There are 82 recipes given in the book, which is published by Rupa Publications. It includes ingredients, measurements, simple and easy to understand cooking method and pictures of the dishes which are sure to grab the interest of food lovers.

Addressing the gathering, Akesh Bhatnagar, the General Manager of The Golkonda Hotel, said that the book is a combination of lesser-known Hyderabadi dishes and also the ones which evolved over time, through culinary innovation. He said that the book also puts special emphasis on vegetarian dishes of Hyderabad.

He also said that many of the recipes given in the book would be incorporated in the menu of Jewel of Nizam restaurant in the Hotel.

Laxmidevi Raj, whose family tree has been existent in Hyderabad since the 1800s, said that the fast-food culture has ruined the eating habits of Hyderabadis and observed that many of the dishes which are traditionally served in an elaborate Hyderabadi breakfast, either don't exist or are not served anymore. She stressed that Hyderabadi cuisine doesn't just mean Haleem and Biryani. Praising the uniqueness of the 'Ganga-Jamuna Tehseeb' of Hyderabad, which doesn't exist anywhere else, she felt that the cuisine and the unique life style and experiences of the city needs to be documented for future generations to read. Priced at Rs 295, 'Jewel of Nizam' is certainly a treasure trove of rare Hyderabadi food preparations.