Home Kitchen Permits Ignite a New Era for Contra Costa County Entrepreneurs

In Contra Costa County, a new path to entrepreneurship is simmering—right from the stovetops of home kitchens. Debbie and Deeann Carrillo, sisters raised on Italian and Puerto Rican recipes, are part of a growing movement made possible by California’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) program.

Debbie, a longtime cook who lost her job in 2021, faced the high costs of starting a restaurant—over $274,000—and sought a more affordable alternative. That’s when she discovered MEHKO, which allows home cooks to legally sell food directly to the public with a permit that costs under $1,000.

In 2023, Contra Costa County launched its own two-year pilot of the program, and Debbie was among the first applicants. Today, her business Two Sisters Catering, based in Concord, is one of 31 permitted MEHKOs in the county. From lasagna to lemon bundt cakes, the sisters have grown a loyal customer base using only word-of-mouth and Instagram—because under MEHKO, physical advertising and partnerships with platforms like DoorDash are prohibited.

Still, the opportunity has proved transformative. MEHKOs limit cooks to 30 meals per day and $100,000 in annual sales, but they also offer a realistic entry point into the food industry for working-class residents, women of color, and longtime culinary enthusiasts like the Carrillos.

Across California, over 1,000 MEHKO permits have been issued, with support from advocacy groups like Cook Alliance, which is lobbying to expand the law’s flexibility. As demand grows, this grassroots culinary revolution continues to reshape how food businesses get their start.

For the Carrillo sisters, the dream began in their mother’s kitchen. Now, thanks to MEHKO, they’re bringing that same love of food—and community—to the tables of Contra Costa.