Meet Chef Aneesa Waheed.

Chef Aneesa Waheed is passionate about the joys of a truly global palate, abundantly rom the very beginning of launching her restaurant evident in every pot she stirs empire nearly a decade ago, Chef Aneesa understood that the best way to introduce diners of all ages to the and every plate she brings to joys of Moroccan food meant not just oering an her table: at home, in her three assortment of elevated traditional dishes such as her Tara Kitchen Moroccan outrageously delicious and authentic signature tagines, but also a creating a modern play on classic American comfort restaurants and via her food, including cabbage rolls, spaghetti and meatballs, award-winning line of eggplant parmesan and fish cakes, given them all a tasty Moroccan cooking sauces North African twist that appeal and delight even the fussiest and condiments. eaters (and because Chef Aneesa wants everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy her food, many dishes can be prepared free of gluten, nuts, dairy, soy and/or can be We invite you to discover Chef tweaked for the vegan diner). Aneesa’s world and learn more about her mastery of sweet Now veteran guest of Food Network TV’s “Beat Bobby Flay,” “Kitchen Crash” and “Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games,” Chef and savory flavors and her Aneesa first tested her culinary chops at the tender age of 6, inventive interpretations on selling jars of pickles on the streets in Bombay. Moroccan cuisine, all of which have brought her considerable Emigrating to the US with her family at 16, Aneesa ultimately settled in Schenectady, NY with her husband Muntasim acclaim in the greater Shoaib (originally from Pakistan) following a fateful trip to Albany/Capital district of New Morocco during which she fell in love with the country York, and beyond. and all of its culinary delights. o inspired was she after her African adventure that she married her love of food, travel and culture, opening an import shop which highlighted products from India, Morocco and Pakistan. Ultimately, this led to a spot at the Schenectady Greenmarket, where Chef Aneesa became a self-taught food street vendor, selling Moroccan food to hungry market shoppers. The lines that wrapped around the market told an instant success story, as shoppers couldn’t get enough of this heady new and delicious cuisine that Chef Aneesa was cooking, which, up till then, was missing from the greater Albany restaurant scene.

With support from her loyal customers, in January 2012, Tara Kitchen opened its first brick and mortar location in downtown Schenectady. Five years later, Chef Aneesa opened a second restaurant location in neighboring Troy, NY, followed by a third location in Guilderland, NY in 2020 (yes, the popularity of Tara Kitchen had grown so quickly that Chef Aneesa and sta were able to open a new location during the pandemic).

Awarded “Best Restaurant” by Capital Region Living , named as one of the “40 people under 40” to watch in the Capital Region, and voted #5 of New York’s top-rated restaurants, Chef Aneesa and Tara Kitchen have become a beloved area staple, currently oering take out in all three locations and selling the line of sauces and condiments at over 300 grocery stores, including Whole Foods.

Next up? A Moroccan-themed spa, Tara Hammam, along with an extension on the grocery line and a book on global cuisine that everyone, from the sophisticated jetsetter to the armchair traveler, will surely devour. Select Press

2020

CBS 6: The secret to one local restaurant's success during COVID-19 pandemic WAMC/NPR: Food Friday WNYT/News Channel 13: Businesses giving back during coronavirus pandemic Spectrum News: Schenectady Restaurant Brings Weekly Food to Medical Workers Times Union: Tara Kitchen adapts to new business model Albany Business Review: Why owner of Tara Kitchen is starting a free mentoring program for minority entrepreneurs Times Union: Female employers, leaders on bouncing back from COVID Downtown Troy Podcast: How to Manage Your Time with Aneesa Waheed Spirit of the Capital Region: Social Distancing Edition Ep: 17 - Tara Kitchen Asian-American Herald: Tara Kitchen

2019

Beat Bobby Flay: Greeking Out Times Union: Tara Kitchen opening location in Guilderland SchenectEATS: Tara Kitchen Broadway World: What is coming up on Food Network in March Albany Business Review: What happened after Matt Baumgartner and Aneesa Waheed appeared on national TV shows Times Union: The Capital Region's 75 Essential Restaurants 2019 Daily Gazette: Tara Kitchen owner set to give landmark Schenectady structure new life as Moroccan-style spa

2018

Guy’s Grocery Games: Meals from the Middle Madness TEDx Talks WAMC/NPR: Food Friday Albany Business Review: These are the 2018 Women Who Mean Business WGNA: Tara Kitchen rated as romantic restaurant in upstate New York U.S. News and World Report: How and Why to Love Dates – the Fruit, That Is NYUp: The 22 best-reviewed Upstate NY restaurants of 2018

Chef Aneesa Waheed is available for press/media interviews. Queries to Abbe Aronson High definition photos and select recipes upon request. [email protected] | 845.481.0751