
(the new pastry delivery vehicle!
now I just need a damn space to make the pastries.)
Yet, despite my open heart and love of anthropomorphizing animals to the extent that I’ll invite them to work in the kitchen, my journey has not been simple and I’ve not yet found a space for my cold ovens and even more frigid baker’s hands. But fear not, I shall continue my quest unabated. I’ve even begun to regard my barn not so much a receptacle to house two cars and my husband’s studio but as a possible commercial bakery. I’m incorrigible and just a wee bit evil.
But life hasn’t been entirely about my real estate shakedown. I’ve also been outlining and generally noodling with my second book. Hey, just because the first one hasn’t come out yet doesn’t mean I can’t plug away on the second. Which leads me to ask, are any of you about to start up a food business? Have you just started a food business? Have you been running a food business for some time? How’s that working for you? I want to know and I may want to write about it because there’s kindred connection among us foodie knuckleheads who, despite all the known hardships and low profit margins, can’t NOT work with food. So tell me your stories. Think of it as therapy.
8 comments:
Where shall we foodie entrepreneurs send our info once we have it together, if we actually decide to share our culinary entrepreneurship struggles?
i have been in the food business for a long time in various incarnations over the last 30 years, my current appearance being a cook at hunger mtn coop. i occasionally toy with the idea of joining forces with another baker/foodslut type person to engage in a more creatively engaging effort than producing large amounts of organic food for what amounts to a health-food cafeteria, over which i have limited control as to quality. oh, i'm outing myself bigtime, gesine...
yr blog writings intruige me, engage me, because they are piss-ass funny in that way that someone can only be when they have been living up to their eyeballs in the stuff we all eat day-in, day-out...we get a bit wacky, and VERY noodley.
Hallo Gesine:
I wanted to congratulate you on your upcoming book. I just saw your mini book trailer and I thought it was very inspiring. I am glad you opted to pursue happiness and self-fulfillment. The best of this is that you love whay you do and have an amazing talent for it.
Your delectable treats are mouth- watering, LOL! I look forward to reading your recipes in your new book and hopefully pay a visit to your new pastry shop in Austin, Texas in the near future. I have read so much about your macaroons, can't wait to try them. I wish you viel Glück, LOL.
Best wishes,
Ledy
P.S. Please Let me know when you will be book touring in New York City, it would be a pleasure to meet you and the book signed by you.
Baltimore still needs good pastries and confections...
And I'm opening a new joint. Soon, I think.
Alright, I will post it here:
I grew up in Germany, and as a typical German breakfast food, I love Muesli, which is readily available there in a gazillion different combinations. When I moved to the USA, I started making my own Muesli. My husband and I have been making our Muesli ever since we moved in together as he is a big breakfast eater as well. About 6 months ago I became aware of a new CSA in the area, and started getting their produce. Supporting local food businesses, I asked them about the Muesli. A taste later, they are happy to give me the opportunity to sell our muesli to like-minded people, who are already their customers. The commercial kitchen is organized in a local tea house and I can get the stickers, bags and ingredients (been getting bulk for years) anytime. Now, I have to make the next step and ... just do it! Wish me luck and thanks for letting me share...
Bilingual! Fabulous! you can send more to gesineconfectionary@yahoo.com. I love Muesli and there is such a disparity between what I eat at Tante Christel and Onkle Heinz's table in Ober Bayern and stuff we get here.
Alison, I think working in your current environment is exactly the kind of experience that is going to help you if you move on to your own dream. You've worked the factory. Now you can work as an artisan. You have experience! Yeah, there's business stuff all wrapped up into the equation but the kitchen experience is monumental.
And thank you Ledy. So lovely, your words of encouragement.
Mr. Onocoffee, when are you opening??? We're gonna come and have us some beautiful espresso made by the master.
Hi Gesine,
Oh my God. I'm over here drooling. Your site is my new favorite. I run a Bed & Breakfast near Madison WI so I am in the food business but probably not what you are looking for in terms of tips and advice. I am an author looking for a "signature gift" to send to people as a thank you gift and thought whoopie pies would be awesome since I am from New Hampshire. So I searched out New England bakeries and found you, only to see you are in transition - but hey! it led me to your blog!!! When you get up and running, I would love to know if you do any shipping, corporate orders. those macaroons sound good too.
Congratulations on your new book. I'll be buying a copy. I'm loving your blog.
I'm a wee bit late to this post... but my fiance and I have been mulling over open a sandwich shop/bakery for a year. I don't even know where to start. We've got very specific ideas for a menu, size of the space we'd want and that's about it.
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