Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani, are two such dishes which are popular not only in India but all over the world. But a unique war has broken out in Delhi regarding the invention of these dishes. Two prestigious restaurants are taking credit for the invention of these delicious dishes. The matter has escalated so much that it has reached the Delhi High Court.
According to a report in Times of India, there are two main contenders in this unique battle – two famous restaurant chains – Moti Mahal and Daryaganj. Moti Mahal claims that Kundan Lal Gujral invented butter chicken and dal makhani in 1947. At the same time, the restaurant in Daryaganj says that the history of these dishes dates back to the 19th century and is related to Peshawar.
Claim of invention
According to Moti Mahal, Kundan Lal Gujral invented butter chicken when he accidentally mixed tomatoes and butter in tikka masala. As for the Dal Makhani, they claim that Gujral created it by making some changes to the already existing Dal Makhani recipe. At the same time, the restaurant in Daryaganj says that Butter Chicken and Dal Makhani have come from Peshawar and their history goes back to the 19th century. They claim that Gujral had brought these dishes from Peshawar and made them popular in Delhi.
Daryaganj reached High Court
Daryaganj restaurant chain has moved to the Delhi High Court. The owners of Moti Mahal had allegedly made 'derogatory' remarks in an interview, which Daryaganj is protesting against. While Moti Mahal claims that its predecessor, the late Kundan Lal Gujral, created the recipe for butter chicken and dal makhani, Daryaganj is 'misleading people' about the true origin of these dishes. At the same time, Daryaganj says that the 'derogatory' statements made in this article published in the Wall Street Journal and then circulated by other websites have hurt the reputation of his restaurant.
Moti Mahal filed a case
Earlier this year, Moti Mahal had filed a lawsuit against Daryaganj, alleging that Daryaganj was taking credit for these dishes and claiming to have some association with them. The owners of Moti Mahal have demanded to stop the owners of Daryaganj from making this claim. Also, they do not want Daryaganj to use a tagline like 'by the inventors of butter chicken and dal makhani' on its website and social media platforms.
The hearing will be held on May 29
The High Court has asked the owners of Daryaganj to file a written statement in response to the lawsuit. The hearing of this case will be on 29th May. This controversy is spicy news for the food lovers of Delhi. However, it will be interesting to see in whose favor the court will give its verdict.
(PC: Freepik)
