Breaking down barriers

DISHOOM BREAKS DOWN barriers, just as the old Irani cafés of Bombay did. They were the first places where people of any culture, class or religion could break bread together. And shared spaces and experiences mean less violence and less hatred. During Partition, Bombay was spared the bloodshed of Delhi and Calcutta, thanks in part to shared spaces like Irani cafés.

Today, more than ever, we believe that breaking down barriers is hugely important work. We get Muslims and non-Muslims to celebrate Eid, and Hindus and non-Hindus to celebrate Diwali. We tie Knots of Protection on each other. We bring people from all cultures and all walks of life together in our restaurants, and we feed millions of children.

At Dishoom, food is a way of breaking down barriers, and this is at the heart of what we do.

DISHOOM BREAKS DOWN barriers, just as the old Irani cafés of Bombay did. They were the first places where people of any culture, class or religion could break bread together. And shared spaces and experiences mean less violence and less hatred. During Partition, Bombay was spared the bloodshed of Delhi and Calcutta, thanks in part to shared spaces like Irani cafés.

Today, more than ever, we believe that breaking down barriers is hugely important work. We get Muslims and non-Muslims to celebrate Eid, and Hindus and non-Hindus to celebrate Diwali. We tie Knots of Protection on each other. We bring people from all cultures and all walks of life together in our restaurants, and we feed millions of children.

At Dishoom, food is a way of breaking down barriers, and this is at the heart of what we do.

Food For Education

A meal for a meal

For Ramadan 2015 (as our zakat or act of charity) we supported two wonderful charities – Magic Breakfast in the UK, and The Akshaya Patra Foundation in India. At Diwali the same year, we made this partnership permanent. For every meal we serve, we donate a meal to a child who would otherwise go hungry. A meal for a meal.

When hunger is a barrier to education it also becomes a barrier to social mobility. A child that is not fed can become a teenager that did not learn and an adult that stays in poverty. We care deeply about breaking down these barriers.

We’re overjoyed to announce we’ve now donated over 20 MILLION MEALS (and counting!). Sincerely – thank you…

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Raksha Bandhan

The Knot of Protection

For Raksha Bandhan, we invite all our guests to tie a rakhi (thread) on someone of a different faith, nationality or culture. This gesture of solidarity was inspired by Tagore, who used it to unite the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal in 1905.

Last year, you tied 7,485 rakhis, and for every rakhi, we donated £1 to Seeds of Peace, a charity that helps teenagers from conflict regions to learn how to make peace. This year we hope to see many more of you joining us to strengthen the bonds that bind us together…

Read about Tagore and Raksha Bandhan

PICTURED: Tying a rakhi (thread) as a knot of protection – a symbol of peace and compassion.
Read the café stories

Suggested Reading

See the journal

The Ritual of Zakat

Compassion. Generosity. Discipline. Honesty. Selflessness. Tolerance. These principles lie at the heart of Islam. Our Muslim brothers and sisters are bound to give, share and take care of others.

A Little Magic

“Who wants to see some magic?” Chef Arun calls out. He flings the rolled out dough into the air, sending it soaring above the counter. It spins and twists, a graceful dancer in the air. The children watch its arc, their eyes wide with wonder, until it lands gently back in the chef's hands. The children shriek in delight.

Children sit cross legged at school

10 million meals for children

Since 2015, for every Dishoom meal you’ve enjoyed (whether in the cafés, via delivery, or as a meal kit), we’ve donated a meal to a child that might otherwise go hungry. A meal for a meal. This month, as we reached the milestone of donating 10 million meals, we had occasion to catch up with our dear friends and long-term charity partners, Magic Breakfast and Akshaya Patra. The work both charities do to end hunger as a barrier to education is simply incredible and we’re extremely proud to be able to support them and the communities they serve in the UK and India, respectively. We kindly invite you to take a moment to hear their reflections on our partnership and on the impact of the very important work they do. 

Dishoom x Pizza Pilgrims – The Bacon & Egg Naan Pizza

Its not often you get the chance to make 1 + 1 = 3, but if you ever do - you should grab it with both hands. Because these are the moments you will remember, the ones you will cherish, the ones that makes it all worthwhile.