<Downloadable PDF in the series is forthcoming. In the meantime, please refer to their Blog post>

Publication Date: June 19, 2025

Citation: Roelofse, E., (2025). Moment of Truth Playbook: Black Capital Studies. Institute for Quantum Innovation and Impact, Qii Moment of Truth Series (Qii MOT No. 1-27, published in 2025).

License: Open access under CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0

Available at: https://theqii.org/portfolio/Tutu-Mone/

When some people lose a job, they start scrolling the classifieds. Tutu started cooking—hard. In fourteen frantic days she turned “nothing” into $30,000 of sales, proof that the gift she’d used to stretch a few dollars into a healthy meal for at-risk kids could also stretch into a six-figure company:

“It actually started with a police officer, 35 at-risk preteens, and a program called the Hail Mary Project. My children were a part of this program. The goal was to offer sports, life skills, and a good meal nightly, except the “good meal” was pizza every single night! I offered to provide the kids with a home-cooked meal as a volunteer.

I would go take attendance at the program site, go grocery, head home, and cook a full-course meal all within 2 1/2 hours. This kicked my idea into full gear! I can cook large amounts of food and make sure every dish is prepared with Love.”

Tu Wayy Catering now feeds festivals, universities, and anyone craving brisket or mac-and-cheese, seasoned “like I’m just cooking for my kids.”

“Even in a rush, I still take my time to cook. Brisket, wings, and jerk chicken, mac ‘n cheese, are all top sellers at any event. I make some homemade sauces, so, yeah, I stay pretty busy, but I absolutely love, love what I do!”

This is “Tutu” Moné’s Moment of Truth.