Emirati chef’s video cooking huge meal for labourers goes viral; says he wanted to teach his children the importance of giving
There’s a new cooking duo in town, and they’re not just making delicious food – they’re making a difference. Emirati chef Ahmed Darweesh and his four-year-old son Hamdan have gone viral on social media with their heartwarming video of cooking a massive meal for over 300 laborers. The father and son spent their time cutting up three goats and washing 25kg of rice to create a mouth-watering biryani dish, which they then packaged and distributed to the workers.
But this wasn’t just any ordinary meal – it was a lesson in the importance of giving. “Children remember their experiences,” Chef Ahmed explained. “I wanted to make sure that my son experienced the joy of giving in an unforgettable way. My son Hamdan enjoyed the whole process so much that I am sure he will always treasure the memory of it. In fact, ever since then, he has been asking me every day when we can do it again.”
The video, which has garnered over 20 million views on Instagram and over 10 million views on TikTok, has sparked a movement of kindness and generosity. Ahmed hopes to inspire more people to give back, especially within the restaurant industry. “I believe that every restaurant can cook an additional 10 or 20 meals to be distributed,” he said. “If every restaurant can do something similar, together we will be able to feed a whole lot of people.”
But this isn’t the first time Ahmed has used his culinary skills to make a difference. He regularly cooks and distributes food to those in need throughout the year, and during Ramadan, he cooks a massive meal at least two or three times. In fact, the largest batch he’s ever made was for 1,000 meals.
The video has amassed over 20 million views on Instagram and over 10 million views on Tiktok with netizens hailing both of them for their act. Ahmed said he has been surprised by the amount of appreciation that has poured in. “In one day, I got over 100,000 followers,” he said. “There have been over 1,000 mentions. I am really surprised but grateful for all the love.”
Ahmed’s passion for giving back stems from his own parents, who would cook at least once or twice a week to distribute and feed other people. “Now their health doesn’t permit them, but I know that they are very happy when they see me doing it as well,” he said.
The value of giving that Ahmed is trying to instil in his children came from his own parents. “My father and my mother would cook at least once or twice a week to distribute and feed other people,” he said. “Now their health doesn’t permit them, but I know that they are very happy when they see me doing it as well.”
According to Ahmed, this isn’t the first time he has cooked such meals or made a video about it. “I cook such a huge meal at least two or three times every Ramadan,” he said. “The largest batch I have made is 1,000 meals. Throughout the year as well, I cook and distribute food when I get the time.”
While some people have criticized Ahmed for posting the video on social media, he believes that sometimes it’s important to share acts of kindness with the world. “I cannot reach all the hungry people. If people get inspired by what I do, then we can multiply the number of people we collectively reach,” he explained.
Ahmed’s story serves as a reminder that no act of kindness is too small, and that even a simple meal can make a huge difference in someone’s life. As we navigate through these challenging times, it’s important to remember the value of giving back and supporting our communities.
