Moti Mahal Delux
Encyclopedia
Moti Mahal is a chain of restaurants with over 90 franchisees in India
. Starting with Moti Mahal restaurant established by Kundan Lal Gujral in Daryaganj
, Delhi. It was the first Indian restaurant to introduce tandoori cuisine
to the world . Some of the restaurants are popular for reasons other than their food, too - the Moti Mahal Restaurant at Metrowalk Mall Rohini
, Delhi
, holds the record for constructing the longest aquarium in India in the Limca Book of Records
.
and Pakistan
, Gujral found himself one among many Hindu refugees fleeing the rioting and upheaval by moving to India. He moved his restaurant to Delhi
in a place called Daryaganj
. Kundan Lal Gujral is famous for inventing tandoori chicken
. He also invented other Indian dishes, such as butter chicken
and modern dal makhani
.
Kundan Lal Gujral was born in the first decade of the 20th century in Chakwal
, in undivided Punjab. Having lost his father at the age of ten, he started looking for avenues to support the family. Kundan Lal was the first in Peshawar
to dig a tandoor right in the middle of the eatery. Since then, Peshawar was introduced to the culinary art of tandoori chicken by Kundan Lal. This was a grand success. Soon, Kundan was in demand for tandoori delicacies at social gatherings and wedding feasts, where he would use an improvised tandoor.
is one of the most renowned Indian dishes. Originated in the land of Punjab by Kundan Lal Gujral, it is now savored by people all over the world. At Moti Mahal Delux Tandoori Trail, it is known as the special Signature butter chicken.
is the legacy of Moti Mahal Restaurants. Previously, earth and clay tandoors were used to prepare chapattis and naans. It was not before Kundan Lal Gujral that anyone thought of preparing chicken in tandoor.
Tandoori chicken was a great creation that grabbed the attention of international cookeries to explore more about Indian culinary art.
is one of the most characteristic dishes of North India. It is usually prepared slowly on low heat and blended with butter or cream.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Starting with Moti Mahal restaurant established by Kundan Lal Gujral in Daryaganj
Daryaganj
Daryaganj, also called Darya Ganj , is a neighbourhood of Delhi inside the walled city of Shahjahanabad . The "darya" refers to the river Yamuna which was just outside the walled city...
, Delhi. It was the first Indian restaurant to introduce tandoori cuisine
Tandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken is highly popular Indian and Pakistani dish consisting of roasted chicken, yogurt, and spices.-Preparation:The chicken is marinated in Yoghurt and seasoned with tandoori masala. It is moderately piquant in India and Pakistan, but the heat is reduced in most Western nations...
to the world . Some of the restaurants are popular for reasons other than their food, too - the Moti Mahal Restaurant at Metrowalk Mall Rohini
Rohini Sub City
Rohini रोहिणी is a 30-year-old residential sub city in North West Delhi in India. Rohini is second largest sub city in Asia after Dwarka Sub City in South West Delhi. It was the first mega sub-city project of Delhi Development Authority in the urban extension of Delhi, started in 1980s to provide...
, Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, holds the record for constructing the longest aquarium in India in the Limca Book of Records
Limca Book of Records
Limca Book of Records is a record book of Indian origin. First published in 1990, when the Limca Brand was owned by Parle Group. The book continued to be published by Coca-Cola, when they bought the Limca Brand. The 20th edition of this book was released by Amitabh Bachchan in March 2009...
.
History
Moti Mahal was first set up in undivided India in 1920 by a Hindu Punjabi, Kundan Lal Gujral. Following the partition between IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, Gujral found himself one among many Hindu refugees fleeing the rioting and upheaval by moving to India. He moved his restaurant to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
in a place called Daryaganj
Daryaganj
Daryaganj, also called Darya Ganj , is a neighbourhood of Delhi inside the walled city of Shahjahanabad . The "darya" refers to the river Yamuna which was just outside the walled city...
. Kundan Lal Gujral is famous for inventing tandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken is highly popular Indian and Pakistani dish consisting of roasted chicken, yogurt, and spices.-Preparation:The chicken is marinated in Yoghurt and seasoned with tandoori masala. It is moderately piquant in India and Pakistan, but the heat is reduced in most Western nations...
. He also invented other Indian dishes, such as butter chicken
Butter chicken
Butter chicken is part of the Indian cuisine, popular in countries all over the world. The origins of butter chicken can be traced back to Kundan Lal Gujral, a Hindu Punjabi, who ran a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Delhi. Butter Chicken is regarded to have been first introduced by Moti Mahal in...
and modern dal makhani
Dal makhani
-History:Dal Makhani is a signature staple food that originates from Punjab - a state in the north west of India. It is also known, as Maah-ki-dal Dal Makhani is favorite dish to order when dining out in most parts of India. Like the people of Punjab the dish is robust one and not for calorie...
.
Kundan Lal Gujral was born in the first decade of the 20th century in Chakwal
Chakwal
Chakwal is the capital of Chakwal District, Punjab, Pakistan. It is located 90 km south-east of the federal capital, Islamabad and is named after Chaudhry Chaku Khan, chief of the Mair Minhas tribe from Jammu, who founded it in 1525 CE during the era of the Mughal Emperor, Zaheerudun Babur...
, in undivided Punjab. Having lost his father at the age of ten, he started looking for avenues to support the family. Kundan Lal was the first in Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
to dig a tandoor right in the middle of the eatery. Since then, Peshawar was introduced to the culinary art of tandoori chicken by Kundan Lal. This was a grand success. Soon, Kundan was in demand for tandoori delicacies at social gatherings and wedding feasts, where he would use an improvised tandoor.
The new contemporary look
Moti Mahal Restaurants changed its name to Moti Mahal Delux - Tandoori Trail, which was started by Monish Gujral as a tribute to his grandfather Kundan Lal Gujral. Presently, Monish Gujral is the MD of the Moti Mahal chain of restaurants, with over 90 franchisees spread throughout India.Motimahal Ready to Eat
Moti Mahal has launched its new range of processed food products known as Moti Mahal ready to eat. The food products include specialties like dal Motimahal, butter (Makhani), gravy channa pndi, aloo zeera, navrattan curry, subzi Moti biryani, etc.Butter chicken
Butter chickenButter chicken
Butter chicken is part of the Indian cuisine, popular in countries all over the world. The origins of butter chicken can be traced back to Kundan Lal Gujral, a Hindu Punjabi, who ran a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Delhi. Butter Chicken is regarded to have been first introduced by Moti Mahal in...
is one of the most renowned Indian dishes. Originated in the land of Punjab by Kundan Lal Gujral, it is now savored by people all over the world. At Moti Mahal Delux Tandoori Trail, it is known as the special Signature butter chicken.
Tandoori chicken
Tandoori chickenTandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken is highly popular Indian and Pakistani dish consisting of roasted chicken, yogurt, and spices.-Preparation:The chicken is marinated in Yoghurt and seasoned with tandoori masala. It is moderately piquant in India and Pakistan, but the heat is reduced in most Western nations...
is the legacy of Moti Mahal Restaurants. Previously, earth and clay tandoors were used to prepare chapattis and naans. It was not before Kundan Lal Gujral that anyone thought of preparing chicken in tandoor.
Tandoori chicken was a great creation that grabbed the attention of international cookeries to explore more about Indian culinary art.
Dal makhani
Dal makhaniDal makhani
-History:Dal Makhani is a signature staple food that originates from Punjab - a state in the north west of India. It is also known, as Maah-ki-dal Dal Makhani is favorite dish to order when dining out in most parts of India. Like the people of Punjab the dish is robust one and not for calorie...
is one of the most characteristic dishes of North India. It is usually prepared slowly on low heat and blended with butter or cream.
Awards and accolades
Kundan Lal Gujral has received several awards and recognitions, such as:- Indian Association of Tour Operators lifetime achievement award for introducing tandoori cuisine to the world in 1991
- H&FS Award for his lifetime contribution to food and beverage industry in 1995.
- World Tourism Promotion Award in recognition of his innovation, the tandoori chicken, and contribution to hospitality industry.
- Trans Himalayan Selection Award -Gold Medal for introducing to the world tandoori cuisine
Other awards given to Moti Mahal Delux Tandoori Trail Restaurants
- Winner Coca Cola Golden Spoon Award for the Most Admired F&B Retailer -chain of restaurants of the Year 2009-2010
- A Moti Mahal cookbook authored by Monish Gujral was awarded the Best Easy Recipe Book of the World by Gourmand Book PARIS on 11 Feb 2010.
- Winner the BEST of Best Restaurant in Delhi and NCR by Mail Today 2009- 2010
- The Franchise India Holding Ltd. – Franchise Awards 2006 on 3 December 2006 for the best in food and beverage category
- Awarded as “Best of the Best” Delhi-NCR’s Finest Restaurants by Antiquity and Mail Today
- Editor’s Choice Award – HT City Eating Out Guide