Another Article

An article I found on www.inc.com that lead to the Washington Post - about food trucks. Boy, when you look, they're all over the place!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/27/AR2010092706722.html

"At first blush, the food truck concept seems simple. Come up with an easy-to-prepare food item that everyone loves, install a kitchen in a truck or cart, incorporate, create a logo, send a tweet and you're on your way. There's a low barrier to entry in the market, you can set your own hours, rent is low. If one location doesn't work, try another.

Well, there's a lot more to it...."

Another Article

An article I found on www.inc.com that lead to the Washington Post - about food trucks. Boy, when you look, they're all over the place!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/27/AR2010092706722.html

"At first blush, the food truck concept seems simple. Come up with an easy-to-prepare food item that everyone loves, install a kitchen in a truck or cart, incorporate, create a logo, send a tweet and you're on your way. There's a low barrier to entry in the market, you can set your own hours, rent is low. If one location doesn't work, try another.

Well, there's a lot more to it...."

Progress

Today was amazing. I spent an hour on the exercise bike multitasking and reading my new book. Got confirmation of my LLC. Spent 4 hours at a Resource Seminar where I met and heard speakers regarding tax law, small business loans, strategic planning, social media, direct marketing.... it was amazing! I took away something from each of the speakers. Time very well spent.

Progress

Today was amazing. I spent an hour on the exercise bike multitasking and reading my new book. Got confirmation of my LLC. Spent 4 hours at a Resource Seminar where I met and heard speakers regarding tax law, small business loans, strategic planning, social media, direct marketing.... it was amazing! I took away something from each of the speakers. Time very well spent.

Business Stuff

I filed my LLC "paperwork" today and bought a book- The Women's Small Business Start-Up Kit.

I'm really excited that there are resources out there for me just because I'm a GIRLLL!!!

Business Stuff

I filed my LLC "paperwork" today and bought a book- The Women's Small Business Start-Up Kit.

I'm really excited that there are resources out there for me just because I'm a GIRLLL!!!

BACK TO WORK

Took the kids to Disney last week (as a surprise- they had no idea where we were going, not even when we were at the airport.). What a great week. Here's what I learned while at the Magic Kingdom:

1. Whistle while you work.
2. Dreams can come true.
3. If we all work together as a team, we can accomplish anything.
4. Everyone should have access to clean, fresh water. (I suppose $2.50 per bottle was my decision, huh?)

Now back to work. This week is my last week off from school, and so LLC and business paperwork is in order. I'll be starting an online Nutrition class and two kitchen classes- Asian and American cuisine.

BACK TO WORK

Took the kids to Disney last week (as a surprise- they had no idea where we were going, not even when we were at the airport.). What a great week. Here's what I learned while at the Magic Kingdom:

1. Whistle while you work.
2. Dreams can come true.
3. If we all work together as a team, we can accomplish anything.
4. Everyone should have access to clean, fresh water. (I suppose $2.50 per bottle was my decision, huh?)

Now back to work. This week is my last week off from school, and so LLC and business paperwork is in order. I'll be starting an online Nutrition class and two kitchen classes- Asian and American cuisine.

SOUPER JENNY IS AWESOME!

So I finally got to Souper Jenny's for lunch with a few friends. The food is fabulous. Fresh, tasty and just wonderful. I had the turkey chili and the Greek Salad and a Pretzel Roll. They were all just perfect!!

I introduced myself to the cheerful Jenny herself and asked her if I could take a photo with her. (I have her permission to put this on my blog- she said she had read my blog!) The reason for this photo, and for others like it, is so that I can continue to see myself with those that I have immense respect for, and to literally visualize myself with successful business/restaurant owners. I am finding specifically that women in the industry and those with spouses/families are a great inspiration. This shows me that it can all work as one harmonious life for me.

Thanks, Jenny! It was great to meet you and your place is comfy, restful and delicious! Maybe you can come to my "restaurant" for lunch in two weeks!!

SOUPER JENNY IS AWESOME!

So I finally got to Souper Jenny's for lunch with a few friends. The food is fabulous. Fresh, tasty and just wonderful. I had the turkey chili and the Greek Salad and a Pretzel Roll. They were all just perfect!!

I introduced myself to the cheerful Jenny herself and asked her if I could take a photo with her. (I have her permission to put this on my blog- she said she had read my blog!) The reason for this photo, and for others like it, is so that I can continue to see myself with those that I have immense respect for, and to literally visualize myself with successful business/restaurant owners. I am finding specifically that women in the industry and those with spouses/families are a great inspiration. This shows me that it can all work as one harmonious life for me.

Thanks, Jenny! It was great to meet you and your place is comfy, restful and delicious! Maybe you can come to my "restaurant" for lunch in two weeks!!

S.J.

I just wrote Souper Jenny an email. Why not, right? I'm going to go there for lunch on Tuesday and hope to be able to say hello and introduce myself. Maybe I can work with her some day.

S.J.

I just wrote Souper Jenny an email. Why not, right? I'm going to go there for lunch on Tuesday and hope to be able to say hello and introduce myself. Maybe I can work with her some day.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Yesterday a friend lent me a Souper Jenny Cookbook and a magazine that talks about her adopting her son as a single mom. This woman is amazing, inspirational and dare I say a current HERO of mine. I've never met her. She exudes this feeling on her web site, in her videos online, in her writing, that makes me happy. I want to be like her, with a smaller, successful restaurant. I went to bed last night and said, "How do I make this work?". Then I realized that I have to define "THIS" and then come up with a plan to make it work. Jason told me to dream about it and we'd figure it out. So from 9:30 - 2:00am I kept dreaming of different soups. Nothing that I remembered specifically at 2:00 when I finally woke up wide awake thinking. So I just got up and came out to the living room to write down my thoughts, ideas and brainstorm a little more.

The restaurant idea scared me, so I backed away and thought a Food Truck might be a better option. Then I got scared of that because the current laws are so restrictive, and decided to start at the Farmer's Market level and let it all grow from small to big instead of risking a lot more going big at first. There is still a lot of thought that will be had to decide where to go next, but it will all work out. I'm finished with school in December and so of course, me being organized me, am trying to figure out what I'll do then...now.

So for now... just thinking of the fall weather, soup, bread and friends.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Yesterday a friend lent me a Souper Jenny Cookbook and a magazine that talks about her adopting her son as a single mom. This woman is amazing, inspirational and dare I say a current HERO of mine. I've never met her. She exudes this feeling on her web site, in her videos online, in her writing, that makes me happy. I want to be like her, with a smaller, successful restaurant. I went to bed last night and said, "How do I make this work?". Then I realized that I have to define "THIS" and then come up with a plan to make it work. Jason told me to dream about it and we'd figure it out. So from 9:30 - 2:00am I kept dreaming of different soups. Nothing that I remembered specifically at 2:00 when I finally woke up wide awake thinking. So I just got up and came out to the living room to write down my thoughts, ideas and brainstorm a little more.

The restaurant idea scared me, so I backed away and thought a Food Truck might be a better option. Then I got scared of that because the current laws are so restrictive, and decided to start at the Farmer's Market level and let it all grow from small to big instead of risking a lot more going big at first. There is still a lot of thought that will be had to decide where to go next, but it will all work out. I'm finished with school in December and so of course, me being organized me, am trying to figure out what I'll do then...now.

So for now... just thinking of the fall weather, soup, bread and friends.

Food Truck article, courtesy of ProChef SmartBrief

From the LA Times-
http://tinyurl.com/259cdhk

Food Truck article, courtesy of ProChef SmartBrief

From the LA Times-
http://tinyurl.com/259cdhk

I LOVE THIS- Western Spaghetti

This animation appeals to my creative side and my cooking side. LOVE IT!
http://tinyurl.com/yesnajq

I LOVE THIS- Western Spaghetti

This animation appeals to my creative side and my cooking side. LOVE IT!
http://tinyurl.com/yesnajq

SOUP, FRESH SOUP

Tonight I made a soup from a bunch of veges in my fridge- some of which would not get eaten due to their appearance. So, I sweated some green, red, yellow and orange bell peppers, green onion, tomatoes, (a few different kinds), Italian zucchini, garlic, rosemary, basil and crushed red pepper and Kosher salt with a few drops of Free Range, Organic Chicken Broth. Blended it up, and whalaaaa!!! I FELL IN LOVE. I am so happy the weather is cooling off so that I can mess around with soups more!

SOUP, FRESH SOUP

Tonight I made a soup from a bunch of veges in my fridge- some of which would not get eaten due to their appearance. So, I sweated some green, red, yellow and orange bell peppers, green onion, tomatoes, (a few different kinds), Italian zucchini, garlic, rosemary, basil and crushed red pepper and Kosher salt with a few drops of Free Range, Organic Chicken Broth. Blended it up, and whalaaaa!!! I FELL IN LOVE. I am so happy the weather is cooling off so that I can mess around with soups more!

ROGER EBERT

What we take for granted... that we eat and socialize at the dinner table with friends, family and even strangers. I did not know about Roger Ebert's story until my husband sent me this link. Amazing. God Bless you, Roger!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/dining/01ebert.html?pagewanted=1&8dpc&_r=2

ROGER EBERT

What we take for granted... that we eat and socialize at the dinner table with friends, family and even strangers. I did not know about Roger Ebert's story until my husband sent me this link. Amazing. God Bless you, Roger!
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/dining/01ebert.html?pagewanted=1&8dpc&_r=2

A BOOK!! A BOOK!!!

My Chef Instructor for Management and Supervision suggested a book today- for those of us wanting to own our own businesses. Considering the number of people asleep in class (regularly) and those with really horrible attitudes, I'm comfortable with my competition.

The Restaurant: From Concept to Operation by John R. Walker should arrive just as my finals are complete, and then I'll have three weeks to dedicate to my new business plan!!!

Thanks, Chef B!

A BOOK!! A BOOK!!!

My Chef Instructor for Management and Supervision suggested a book today- for those of us wanting to own our own businesses. Considering the number of people asleep in class (regularly) and those with really horrible attitudes, I'm comfortable with my competition.

The Restaurant: From Concept to Operation by John R. Walker should arrive just as my finals are complete, and then I'll have three weeks to dedicate to my new business plan!!!

Thanks, Chef B!

CRITICAL AND FRUSTRATED

So. I cooked an "acceptable" brunch for my friends last week. I had final practicals this week- one day in baking and two days in pastry. I did "OK", but not as well as I would have liked. I was told by a respected classmate that I am super critical of what I create and that's a sign of a good chef. I sure hope that is true!!

Why is it that I can bake something perfectly good at home, and then when I go to do it at school, it's a whole new beast? Is it the addition of 20 others in the kitchen and 20 people opening and closing the refrigerator and oven doors? Is it my inability to completely and calmly just have fun with what I'm doing when it's being done for a grade? Whats the DEAL???

Time for a break. That's what. Three written exams and one project to go and then a much needed few weeks off before I start my last quarter.

CRITICAL AND FRUSTRATED

So. I cooked an "acceptable" brunch for my friends last week. I had final practicals this week- one day in baking and two days in pastry. I did "OK", but not as well as I would have liked. I was told by a respected classmate that I am super critical of what I create and that's a sign of a good chef. I sure hope that is true!!

Why is it that I can bake something perfectly good at home, and then when I go to do it at school, it's a whole new beast? Is it the addition of 20 others in the kitchen and 20 people opening and closing the refrigerator and oven doors? Is it my inability to completely and calmly just have fun with what I'm doing when it's being done for a grade? Whats the DEAL???

Time for a break. That's what. Three written exams and one project to go and then a much needed few weeks off before I start my last quarter.