The city - sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce
Pic/Ashish Raje
On the beat
Workers making the traditional percussion instruments tabla and dholak at Chinchpokli, ahead of the upcoming festival season.
Flipping colonialism!
Alan Gemmell
This week, as we mark our 79th year of being free from the shackles of colonialism, here’s a thought exercise: What if Britain were an Indian colony? Scottish MP Alan Gemmell — who formerly served as the British Trade Commissioner for South Asia in Mumbai from 2020-2023 — took this thought and ran with it in his new novel, 30th State (Bloomsbury, R499). In this political thriller, Gemmell reimagines Britain, near ruin, as India’s 30th state, seeking life-saving assistance from its former colony. In turn, a muscular India forces its new dominion to right past wrongs, and creates some new ones. Gemmell puts an Indian power couple in 10 Downing Street — well, this bit sounds familiar — and a young politician from Maharashtra chases the repatriation of stolen riches to India. It’s political satire that has made this diarist think about colonialism and reparations. The book couldn’t have come at a more fitting time, we say!
From margins to market
Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and co-founder of WEConnect International
At the South Asia Summit hosted by WEConnect International in Mumbai, women-owned businesses (WOBs) took centre stage in the discussions. The event brought together corporate procurement leaders and entrepreneurs to bridge the gap between demand and visibility for women suppliers.
Elizabeth Vazquez, CEO and co-founder of WEConnect International, highlighted how perceptions have shifted: “Women were once only seen as consumers or micro-entrepreneurs — now they’re being recognised as competitive business owners.” Over the past five years, she noted a growing push toward supply chain inclusivity, especially in emerging markets like India. As companies reassess where and how they spend, women entrepreneurs are gaining ground not just as a social imperative, but as vital players in driving global economic growth.
Dishoom’s £300mn recipe
One of Dishoom’s cafes. Pic Courtesy/dishoom.com
London’s much-loved restaurant group, Dishoom, inspired by Bombay’s Irani cafés, has just been valued at £300 million. The milestone comes as LVMH-backed private equity firm L Catterton acquires a minority stake, marking the brand’s first-ever outside investment and paving the way for its US debut in 2026.
Founded in 2010 in London’s Covent Garden by cousins Shamil and Kavi Thakrar, Dishoom reimagined the charm of 1960s Bombay through immersive storytelling, thoughtful design, and a menu of comforting, perfectly executed dishes. From day one, it drew queues around the block and a fiercely loyal following, serving everything from Bacon Naan Rolls to Jackfruit Biryani, Pau Bhaji, and something for everyone.
Growth has been slow and deliberate, with no franchising, no ghost kitchens, no shortcuts; over 15 years, the brand expanded to 10 restaurants and four Permit Room cafés, each crafted around a fictional backstory, bound by the same warmth, and cultural detail. This approach has built an empire generating over £100 million in annual revenue, with profits up 56 per cent.
In a hospitality world chasing scale, Dishoom’s journey is a reminder: the most valuable brands protect the soul that made people fall in love with them in the first place.
Mark him down for four-day Tests
Former Australia captain Mark Taylor. Pic/Getty Images
Trust an Australian to express an unpopular view and be comfortable with it. Meet Mark Taylor, the former Australia cricket captain, who witnessed a good number of changes in the game during and after his 1988-89 to 1998-99 playing days.
Taylor is an advocate of four-day Tests which he believes will provide a fillip to traditional cricket. He expressed himself again the other day about shorter Tests despite India and England needing the fifth day to produce that fascinating climax to the series at the Oval in London.
“I still believe the game will change dramatically once you make it shorter games. People will adapt to those conditions. Does 55 minutes on Day Five mean it’s great to have a Day Five? Or would players adapt enough so that you wouldn’t need the 55 minutes, and I still think you’ll get very good Test match cricket,” Taylor said on Channel Nine.
Taylor, 60, may not have many supporters for his view; few will tick mark his point. But it’s an opinion which shouldn’t be crossed out without much thought. When’s the next ICC meeting?
Keep calm and carry on
Pooja Arambhan Tiwari with Luke Coutinho at the launch of the book
When every other self-help book seems to tell you how to do more, and do it better and faster, Luke Coutinho’s The Calm Prescription feels almost like an antidote. The book was launched recently by Pooja Arambhan Tiwari, chairperson of FICCI FLO Mumbai, at an event held in association with iiV Health Solutions and Wockhardt Foundation. iiV Health Solutions is building early screening devices for “silent” illnesses such as peripheral artery disease. Tiwari remarks, “FICCI
FLO Mumbai is committed to catalysing conversations and action around holistic health, early screening, and equitable access to preventive solutions.”
Coutinho says his philosophy is to treat the root cause, not the symptoms. “My mission is to educate and make wellness easily available, uncomplicated and empowering for everyone,” he says. Packed with practical ways to harness the power of quiet energy, each chapter of the book is like going on a nano-retreat. Whether it’s healing with music, therapy through pets, the science of silence, or “mindful texting”, the handy tips are sure to resonate particularly with Gen Z readers.
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