Tara Kitchen

Good evening.

My name is Aneesa Waheed, founder of Tara Kitchen, a boutique Moroccan restaurant group, and a proud certified NYC MWBE business.

First of all, as someone who has literally drawn workflow charts at home for my kids and husband just to get the dishes done, being here today feels like my wildest fantasy coming true.

As a small business owner, I’ve learned that becoming certified is only the beginning. The procurement process can be incredibly complex, with multiple certifications, systems, requirements, and layers of administration that can be difficult for small businesses to navigate.

That’s why micro-purchasing is so important.

For many small, independently owned restaurants and mom-and-pop businesses, participating in large procurement opportunities simply isn’t realistic. We don’t have procurement departments or teams dedicated to navigating government contracts. But what we do have is the ability to provide high-quality food, catering, and hospitality directly in our communities.

Micro-purchasing creates a practical and accessible entry point. It can include something as simple as catering a staff meeting, providing boxed lunches for a training session, breakfast or coffee service for a morning briefing, or small-scale catering for community events and cultural celebrations. These are everyday needs that small MWBEs are well positioned to fulfill.

At a time when small businesses are facing rising costs and softening consumer demand, these types of opportunities can provide meaningful, stable revenue that helps keep doors open, supports local jobs, and strengthens neighborhood economies.

When the City spends with small MWBEs, it is not just a transaction—it is an investment in local entrepreneurs and the communities we serve.

And ultimately, success should not be measured by how many MWBEs are certified. It should be measured by how many are getting paid.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

.daa

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