We recently connected with Mona Bavar and have shared our conversation below.
Mona, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Food has always been and will always be an important part of my life. I am honored to be a complex yet interesting mix of the magnificent Persian heritage that gives me roots in tradition and beauty, and the continuously innovative and dynamic Western cultures that give me the freedom to take shape and sprout creativity.
My family and I immigrated to the US from Iran in 1979. Unfortunately at that time, the political mood was quite negative toward Iranians due to a revolution that would force many to flee the country and others to surrender to an oppressive regime. I will spare you the historical details but encourage you to read about it in order to better understand its people and their culture.
Although a ‘melting pot’ the US – or at least some of its people – was not so welcoming to Iranians at the time. As a result, my siblings and I suffered significant bullying in school by both our teachers as well as our classmates, often coming home filled with fear and confusion about the world we were living in.
Regardless of the battles, my parents were fighting as immigrants themselves, my mother and father always managed to make us feel safe and protected – especially in the kitchen and around the table. Breakfast and dinner were mandatory rituals centered around a simple yet beautifully prepared table. My mother made it a point to educate us on the proper way to set the table – forks to the left, knife and spoon to the right, napkins folded to the right, glasses to the upper right. The simple yet colorful setting became an esthetically comforting sanctuary.
The meals were always traditional Persian dishes, reminding us of our rich culinary heritage. From the colors to the scents, each dish was lovingly prepared by my mother, who I later realized cooked as a way of staying connected to the family she had left back in Iran. I will forever remember the comfort I felt upon opening the door and smelling the fried kotlet (Persian meat patties) my mother was preparing. She would affectionately greet me and my siblings while standing over the frying pan – to this day the simple smell of kotlet sparks a sense of peace and safety in me. We would often grab one or two straight from the serving dish and begin to eat it while standing beside her in the kitchen.
During our shared meals, my parents would tell stories of their childhoods, and the memories they had left behind in the hope of a better life. My father would enrich our meals with history and geography, keeping us connected to our roots and the ever magnificent Persian Empire. My siblings and I were the only kids in elementary school who knew the capital of random countries and their place in history. We learned why Persian food contained so many various spices and why saffron was so precious. We realized that the packed Persian lunches my mother gave us – which the kids made fun of with disgust – were rooted in centuries-old traditions and no comparison to the baloney sandwiches eaten by our classmates.
Of course, like most kids, at the time I didn’t appreciate the value of those moments, but looking back, I realize how significant these rituals and history lessons were for me. Around this precious table, my mother made us feel safe by creating a warm, inviting environment free from judgment and prejudice. It became a sort of safe haven where we could gather around and express our thoughts, share our feelings and connect with our roots. We laughed, cried, debated, teased – essentially, we created memories while building a strong, rooted foundation.
Throughout my life, regardless of where I am or who I am with, my greatest joys come from gathering around a table. It is a setting where delectable tastes are savored, rare vintages are enjoyed and most importantly relationships are honed and boundaries are broken. It is around this table that I have shared uncontrollable laughter fueled by those rare vintages, learned about the different cultures I have been privileged to experience, and cultivated relationships that have become important pillars in my life. It is fascinating how a plate of local food shared with a stranger can lead to a lasting friendship.
When I moved to Italy for university, I met a lot of people from different parts of the world – China, Italy, France, Greece, Bosnia, and Turkey – each one with a different history, culture, and dish. As is the way I was raised, I would invite my classmates to my home and we would have dinners where everyone had brought a dish specific to their country. During these dinners, we learned about the food, each other and what our stories were. The raw conversations we had while sharing a meal became some of the most important of my life. We built strong relationships and memories without prejudice – all triggered and guided by food as a common ground.
Food has a powerful way of taking us on historical journeys where we understand the origin and purpose of what we are tasting. We appreciate why certain cultures eat with their hands while others eat with chopsticks. Why some eat on the floor while others at the table. Or why certain regional foods are spicy while others are bland.
Today, when I review the past 40+ years as an immigrant, I can say that the most important thing has been bringing people together and teaching them about the origins and history of the people they may label as terrorists, thieves, freeloaders, etc. My years of experience have proven that the best way for doing this is around the table to share a meal. The table is a safe, neutral place where we, from all different backgrounds, come together to speak about our cultures, the spices that made the dish, the history of the people, where they come from and why they do what they do.
We learn to appreciate the time and the detail that goes into making every piece enjoyed around the table. The faces of the artisans, their hands, and their invaluable skills all take shape through their craft. It has been my mission to capture these priceless moments in the thoughtfully curated DLISH Gifts or around the intimate DLISH Table.
My upbringing, education, travels, my business, my relationships have all contributed significantly to my journey, giving birth to DLISH – an innovative gifting company centered around food, art and design. It is a tribute to my roots, to my family and our struggles, to the people who I have met along the way and who have generously shared pieces of themselves with me. This is what the Art of Gifting is all about.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Forever inspired by food, art and design, our mission is to fuel the joyous spark we all remember from unwrapping gifts as little ones. The intrigue. The excitement. The timeless sense of ritual. With over 20 years of experience, I am proud to lead a dedicated team of all female creatives, designers and culinary specialists to continuously source new and exquisite gifts. Together with my team and talented vendors, we are adding spice, boldness and much needed elegance to the gifting industry.
Our dedication is to shine a light on craftsmanship and design making us the ideal destination for curated, collectible and unique objects. We celebrate the process of creation: from sharing the skills of artisans and contemporary craftspeople to telling the stories behind pieces we have sourced globally.
All our gourmet finds and design objects have one thing in common, they are about craftsmanship, creativity, tradition and the work that goes into making them. Everything has a story and we are dedicated to sharing that story. Fittingly, we have launched DLISH Magazine where we publish extensive biographies about the people behind each of the objects or the objects’ origins, so users can understand why, exactly, these pieces are so special.
We believe in the power of storytelling. Through our exclusive, intimate dinners around the DLISH Table, we explore new tastes, make new friends, share our stories and meet the makers. Working with partners around the world, the themed dinners bring people together to experience multisensory dining while getting vulnerable. In addition, we have also launched DLISH Stories, a brand storytelling leg where we specialize in helping entrepreneurs tap into the power of emotion-driven branding to create a deeper connection with their audience.
Our dedication to innovation has led us to explore new frontiers in the gifting industry, including our beta NFT project, where we’re working with companies to incorporate NFTs into their corporate gifting strategies. As we look to the future, we’re excited to explore even more creative and dynamic ways to elevate the gifting experience.
At DLISH, we’re proud to be trailblazers in the industry, filling a void by creating gifting experiences that spark joy and delight. We believe that every gift has the power to create lasting memories, and it’s our honor to be a part of those special moments.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
In the early stages, everything seemed to be going smoothly. We had secured initial funding, assembled a talented team, and developed a groundbreaking product. However, as we started approaching potential investors and clients, we faced unexpected rejection after rejection. Our pitch was met with skepticism, and many doubted our ability to disrupt the market.
Despite the initial setbacks, I refused to give up. I understood that rejection and adversity were part of the entrepreneurial journey. Instead of being discouraged, I used each rejection as an opportunity to refine our business model, improve our product, and strengthen our pitch. I sought feedback from those who turned us down, looking for areas of improvement and constructive criticism.
The turning point came when we secured a meeting with a renowned venture capitalist who had initially declined our proposal. Rather than being discouraged by their previous rejection, I saw it as a chance to demonstrate our resilience and growth. With a refined pitch and a more compelling product, we showcased our progress and determination.
To my surprise, the venture capitalist was impressed by our resilience and persistence. They recognized the progress we had made and the lessons we had learned from our initial setbacks. In the end, they decided to invest in our startup, providing us with the necessary capital and expertise to scale our business.
This experience taught me the importance of resilience in the face of adversity. It reinforced the idea that setbacks are not failures but opportunities for growth. By embracing rejection, staying determined, and continuously improving, we were able to overcome obstacles and turn them into stepping stones towards success.
Today, I carry the lessons learned from that journey with me, reminding myself that resilience is a fundamental quality every entrepreneur must possess. It fuels my drive to tackle challenges head-on, adapt to changing circumstances, and persevere in the pursuit of my entrepreneurial goals.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to embark on a new venture and start DLISH Magazine, a publication that celebrated the intersection of food, art, and design. Little did I know that the challenges brought about by the pandemic would require me to pivot and adapt my vision for the magazine.
Initially, DLISH Magazine was intended to feature immersive experiences in dining establishments, exploring the artistic elements of restaurant spaces, and highlighting the culinary artistry of chefs. However, with widespread closures and restrictions on dining establishments, the magazine’s original concept faced significant hurdles.
Realizing the need to pivot and find alternative avenues to bring our vision to life, we decided to shift our focus and reimagine DLISH Magazine as a platform that showcased the creativity and resilience of individuals in the food, art, and design industries during the pandemic.
We began featuring stories of chefs who had transitioned to offering innovative takeout or delivery experiences, exploring how they adapted their menus and packaging designs to create a unique at-home dining experience. We highlighted artists who found inspiration in the challenges of the pandemic, showcasing their work and discussing the ways in which they conveyed their emotions and experiences through their art.
Additionally, we dove into the world of design, exploring how restaurants and businesses reimagined their spaces to accommodate social distancing measures while maintaining an inviting atmosphere. We covered the transformation of outdoor dining areas, the integration of safety precautions into interior design, and the ways in which designers responded to the changing needs of the industry.
By pivoting DLISH Magazine’s focus, we were able to capture the essence of the pandemic era, highlighting the resilience, creativity, and adaptability of individuals in the food, art, and design industries. We showcased stories of hope, inspiration, and ingenuity, celebrating the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Through our platform, we not only provided a source of inspiration and support to those in the industry but also created a community that appreciated the interplay between food, art, and design. DLISH Magazine became a beacon of creativity, a source of connection, and a testament to the power of adaptation during challenging times.
This experience taught me the importance of remaining flexible and responsive to the ever-changing landscape of the world. It reinforced the idea that even in the face of unexpected circumstances, there are opportunities to evolve and discover new ways to bring our passions to life. By pivoting DLISH Magazine’s focus during the pandemic, we were able to create a unique space that celebrated the resilience and artistry of individuals in the food, art, and design industries, ultimately fostering a sense of connection and inspiration within our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dlish.us/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dlish.us/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlishus.it
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dlish/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/dlishm?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGiUrUGqlyY4rM2wMj28RpQ