With news about the environment and climate change getting increasingly terrifying, it's good to hear about small ways we can make a difference. So we loved hearing about DabbaDrop, a sustainable takeaway service in Hackney that's just about to expand its delivery zone.
The company was founded by two Hackney neighbourhood friends, Anshu Ahuja and Renee Williams. It disrupts the usual takeaway delivery service by working on a subscription model (book for one a week or fortnight) and using dabbas - Mumbai’s famous reusable stainless-steel tiffin boxes.
Deliveries come via bike or e-bike and even the added extras come in compostable paper bags and pots, meaning all deliveries are single-use plastic free. Old dabba tins are swapped on delivery with fresh ones - so it's a bit like those farm veg delivery services if you've ever used one of those.
Of course none of this would be any use if the food wasn't good, but it does sound very enticing. Each menu you orders feeds two and comprises a dal, two plant-based curries, a homemade roti/naan and rice. Menus change weekly.
A sample menu might include:
- Seasonal greens subzi
- Cauliflower Qorma
- Dal Bukhara
- Dill pilau
- Basmati rice, dill, green chilli and cardamom temper
- Naan
You can also order additional items like a Punjabi potato and black chickpea samosa, poppadoms and a ginger and cardamom brownie.
They already run a ready-to-eat scheme on Friday nights in Hackney, Walthamstow and Leyton. And now they're expanding with a ready-to-heat service for postcodes E2, E3, E15, E20, N1, N5, N7 from Thursday to Saturday. Customers choose a safe place for delivery without being at home. The tiffin boxes are heated in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
More about DabbaDrop
When: The new expanded service begins on 30 January 2020
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @dabbadrop
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