India, Dec. 12 -- With Delhi's air quality slipping deeper into the 'poor' category and likely to worsen from Thursday, the Capital's food businesses are bracing for change. The Delhi government's latest pollution-control directive - a strict ban on coal and firewood tandoors across hotels, restaurants and open eateries - has pushed kitchens into urgent conversations about improvisation, survival and how to retain signature flavours without their defining heat source.

At MI Food Centre in Meharchand Market, Lodi Colony, where tandoori dishes are the backbone of the menu, Mohammad says the order will require a major overhaul. "Humare toh sabse popular dishes hi tandoor ki hain. Ab agar tandoor band hoga, toh humein poora menu sochna padeg...