Shababa’s plight in the food business
Shababa’s aspirations as an artist is what acted as inspiration for Red Window. Upon asked to tell us when she knew she was ready, she says it all started from ‘the day she started painting her cakes. And the rest is history.
Growing up enjoying cooking shows of Sanjeev Kapoor and Nigella Lawson, Shababa became an avid cook by the time she was a teenager.
The push towards experimenting with food came from her mother.
Growing up, her mother encouraged her to make whatever she pleased on her own. Today, she looks after Red Window and Bheja Fry and prepares midnight snacks for her younger brother for leisure.
Food for thought
The Red Window classic Red Velvet Cheese Cake would not have existed if not for Shababa’s adamancy. The night before the big Red Window opening at Dhanmondi, her parents were not very enthusiastic about her going into the restaurant business. But, her love for food and art trumped all.
Her favourite Red Window, Shababa proudly says is also located inside the Unilever office in Gulshan 1.
All in the family
Albeit of her parents being skeptical of it all before the opening. Shababa admits to being eternally grateful to her entire family for supporting her through thick and thin whatever the circumstances.
Her bhabi (sister-in-law) Tasneem Sabrina Hasib who happens to be the owner of Khubsoorty boutique is not only Shababa’s partner at the Red Window but also she looks over the financial operations; while Shababa’s parents look over both of them.
Shababa also explains how her husband Mr. Riyadh Hossain stood by her like a rock, while she started her first restaurant.(Red Window)
No days off
In spite of enjoying baking and cooking so much, Shababa explains how turning your passion into your profession might not turn out to be the most exciting job in the world.
On 19th June, (the day of her Akht) Shababa left the venue by 4 P.M, leaving her husband and her entire family after the ceremony.
Her staff picked the flowers from her hair as she baked a cake on the same day at Red Window.
Shababa Ishmam is a culinary artist in the truest sense. Painting Dhaka’s restaurant scene in red, blue and any and all colors imaginable.
“Tokyo Express is my favorite Japanese food place and getting associated with it was surely a proud moment for me” says Shababa.
Her latest association with Tokyo Express goes to show her plight as a restaurateur. Tokyo Express is one of the leading and most popular restaurants specializing in Japanese cuisine in Dhaka.
Upon asking how she copes with the stress that comes with being responsible for multiple restaurants, she claims that it is a continuous learning experience.
Supervising grocery purchases, maintaining quality control in the kitchen, to monitoring finances, everything was overwhelming at the beginning.
Starting from chefs leaving without notice on peak hours to cash theft, Shababa has had to go through it all. “I learned from my mistakes and now we just try not make the same mistake twice” says Shababa.
The ever-growing Shababa Ishmam aims for the stars while thinking about the next recipe to take Dhaka by storm.
