Deepti Sharma, photographed by Liz Clayman at Blank Slate cafe in Manhattan
"We believe it’s important that our clients (and New Yorkers in general) have a better understanding of the human beings that create and cook and deliver their food everyday: their background, their beliefs, their passion, and their story."
What do you do in the food world and what do you love about it?
I started FoodtoEat! We’re a woman owned corporate catering concierge service. Our mission is to support women, immigrant and minority owned restaurants in NYC. We are helping these small food businesses stand out in the corporate catering world by giving them the tools and foundation they need to thrive. For corporations, we simplify their catering needs by handling everything from finding the right vendor, creating menus, placing the order and making sure the delivery runs smoothly.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received from another woman?
Be brave and embrace from your fuck ups. There's always pressure to be perfect or not make the wrong move as a wife, a mother, and an entrepreneur, but I learn more from my fuck-ups than my successes. The more I embrace the missteps, the better I am in each of these roles.
How do you smash the patriarchy?
Constantly working on helping create opportunities for other women. I live by Marian Wright Edelman’s quote, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” I couldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have strong female role models to look up to and show me the way forward. I try to be as active as I can in sharing my experiences as a minority entrepreneur + mother because I want others like me to see that it is possible to balance these different roles and to get what you want out of life.
What do you hope people will take away from the #Imadeyourfood campaign?
We want people to understand the importance of their food and pay homage to the people behind it. We believe it’s important that our clients (and New Yorkers in general) have a better understanding of the human beings that create and cook and deliver their food everyday: their background, their beliefs, their passion, and their story.
Who are a few of your current favorite food purveyors in NYC?
OOOO this is definitely a tough question.
Indian food- Amma (FoodtoEat vendor + my parents restaurant :)
Tea Spot- Blank Slate Tea (FoodtoEat vendor)
Midtown Lunch Spot- Dos Toros or Chick Shop (Both FoodtoEat vendors)
Asian- Hey Hey Canteen (FoodtoEat vendor)
African- Ja Dijo Dom (FoodtoEat vendor)
Georgian- Oda House
Pizza (slices)- Lucia PIzza in Flushing, Queens
Pizza (thin crust)- Gruppo on Ave B
Mexican Tortas- Zaragoza Deli in the East Village
What is your favorite meal to make for yourself and your family?
Kichidi. It's basically a savory porridge of lentils, rice, and vegetables. My mom used to make it for me growing up. It’s traditionally made when someone isn’t feeling well, so I call it the Chicken Noodle Soup for Indians. I love watching my parents make it, because they make it seem so simple. They open the fridge while singing their traditional Bollywood songs, rummage around for some vegetables, and effortlessly combine it with the lentils and rice to create the ultimate comfort food. Now we do Kichidi Sundays where I add my own twists to it.
Deepti Sharma, photographed by Liz Clayman at Blank Slate cafe in Manhattan