Living in San Francisco, it's only natural that I want to have a technology savvy business. Innovation runs rampant in this neck of the woods. I hear about new cloud based apps and tools every day that can potentially make guests' visits easier or help my business stay on track. I believe in using these tools and will do just that, but first there's choosing the right ones and the overall mix to make the biggest operational impact with the littlest cost impact. I'll let you in on a little ... continue reading...
Journey to Opening a Bakery Part 8: A Cranberry Thanksgiving (Recipe Testing)
Well, well, well. Who knew that cranberry bread could be so persnickety. I mean, growing up I loved Thanksgiving, and it's still my favorite holiday. The simplicity, inclusiveness, and meaning behind the holiday is what got me. It's not about religion (which excludes people) or about gifts (which becomes greedy and wasteful) or focused on a fictitious character (I have nothing against the Easter Bunny!). It's just about celebrating togetherness. Our Thanksgivings were always spent at ... continue reading...
Journey Part 7: Our Coffee Roaster Revealed
Let's be honest. Coffee, makes our day go round (for many of us). It pushes us into motion with a large dose of oomph. If its missing, our day can be lackluster, achy, and even socially a snooze. Coffee isn't just something we pump into our body as brain fuel, though that's part of it. Our palate requests it on a daily basis because it tastes so good (and it celebrates when an exemplary cup has been sipped). Our spirit requests it frequently to satisfy its ritualistic and social needs. I ... continue reading...
Journey Part 6: Menu Planning & Recipe Testing
As you might imagine, menu planning is my favorite part of opening Flour + Co. If it wasn't my favorite part, I'd say that I should rethink this opening a bakery thing. However, if I didn't also enjoy all of the other aspects of opening and running a bakery, including the very long hours that are about to take over my life, I'd also say that I should reconsider. You see, this is where many potential restaurant owners get themselves into trouble. Romanticizing restaurant ownership is easy to ... continue reading...
Journey Part 5: Biscuits & Pies Require Lots o’ Capital!
Some people choose a career in fundraising or devote their free time to raising money for a cause. Hats off to these folks. It's a hard job and one from which I've always run. Well, I can't run any longer. It's my new part time job, along with opening the bakery. Turns out that when following your dream requires funds, you have to make a choice. Do what it takes to raise the appropriate capital or proceed to career plan B. I choose plan A, opening Flour + Co! Opening a small restaurant ... continue reading...