A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

meme30

Possession wrote: »

I meant to say, we did homemade soups last year as well, but we've taken them off this year as a) we had a lot of spillage probs and then its a complete pain to clear up and b) by the time you've bought insulated cups and lids just those cost 20-25p let alone the cost of ingredients/time/fuel. Our van goes to industrial estates and business parks and it was cheaper for people to buy whatever soup was on offer in Tesco and heat it in the microwave. With your customer base you might not have that problem. We also did paninis which were very popular but they didn't keep for long on the van and it only had warming facilities, not cooking ones so we stopped those too.
You'll want to experiment, of course. I did too but really its DH's business, I'm just the cook and I have a 'proper' job which pays the mortgage so I can't spend too much time on it. Then today an order comes in for 200 cakes and I'm wondering where on earth I'm going to find the time to make them! I think I forgot to mention we make our own cakes. Bestsellers are chocolate unbaked, lemon drizzle, crispy mallow cake and millionaires shortbread. Lemon drizzle freezes and the others have a good couple of weeks shelf life which is a lifesaver for me as its a real killer to be having to throw away the things you've made yourself rather than bought in!

Blimey! how long does it take you to make 200 cakes!!

Mrs_Chip

Yes, we are slightly different as ours will not be 'on the hoof' food iyswim, or at least not the rounds anyway.

We have got the chance to do breakfast/lunch sessions on a small trading estate, we will do that to get some practice in.

Then the rounds to villages, and in the season to the campsites.

And then the one-off fairs/shows etc.

I am keen to make as much as possible because here in Pembs we can apply for the Pembs quality mark, and the council will promote your business. Plus I want to sell nice food! I hope to be able to run a weekly coffee morning for the village, so any left-over cake and stuff would get used up one way or another!

ETA - I meant to ask that too!

Possession

meme30 wrote: »

Blimey! how long does it take you to make 200 cakes!!

I mostly make traybakes so its not as bad as it sounds, one big tray of chocolate unbaked will make 24 slices. But I already get up at 5.30 on a normal day to do the van stuff, then start my actual job about 9.30 when the van goes off, and all making of sausage rolls/cakes/soups/extra orders is in addition to that so its pretty exhausting. Catering is pretty exhausting!

Mrs_Chip

Thankfully there are two of us to run the van full time, but I am under no allusions about how hard the work will be!

Mrs_Chip

... Meant to say, P, blimey that would knacker me!

gardenia101

All this catering talk is making me exhausted & I don't have to bake any of it! I do remember a local pub's bestseller was a huge Yorkshire pud with meat, pots, veg all inside & oodles of gravy added - it was soooo lush I'm salivating at the memory :rotfl:

Don't know how those of you higher up are coping, but my fence has partly blown down & is resting nicely on my neighbours shed. It isn't fixable so has given me the kick I need to get a wall built - luckily my neighbour is really friendly as this may take a while . Hope he stays that way.

I have a confession to make - I can finally pee standing up like a bloke, thanks to one of these which will be a lifesaver on long walks :T. So sorry if TMI but I always seem to be limited to 1-2 hours radius & am fed up with flashing strangers :eek: when I think I'm being discrete. Maybe I drink too much tea (is there such a thing as too much tea?)....

Ginnyknit - hope you are getting on OK with all you tooing & froing.

Taurus - take it easy hun. Cant find a lying in bed reading a book smilie for you, sorry.

Possibly related to toxic friends/family - I met a friend yesterday that I hadn't seen for a year. She in turn told me about a lady in the same business as us that had suddenly died at 30 :eek:. I don't know the whole story, but it really brings it home how you never know what is round that corner.

Mrs_Chip

:o:o I've got one of those too - got it fot the garden here, as it's a long way back down for a wee :rotfl:. Ideal for watering the compost heap :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

Mrs_Chip

Oh, where has everyone gone? I'm normally one of the last on parade!

No GQ again this morning, and lots of Toughies MIA - anyone know where they have gone???

7_week_wonder

Please can we start 2012 again, as so far it isn't going according to plan!

Am sitting here shattered waiting for the tea to kick in! We were at the local hospital until after 1 this morning after my mum collapsed at home earlier in the evening. They've kept her in cos they still don't know what happened, but the good news is it almost definitely wasn't a stroke as her brain scan was ok.

Fortunately I'd planned to take today off (we were supposed to be taking mum home after the holidays). So right now I'm trying to keep occupied until I can phone the hospital later this morning. I forsee a lot of mindless tidying and pottering for the next couple of hours or so.

Please keep the banter coming - I need distracting!

Mrs_Chip

Phew! Thankg goodness, I thought there had been a mass evacuation to the hills (my own personal apocalypse scenario:D) due to aliens landing or an outbreak of triffids.

Sorry you are not feeling on top form GQ, take five and chill, it's good for the soul!

OH having decide that he will now tolerate a certain brand of B beans, (a young upstart in the bean arena) I am off to coop to pick up several 4-packs at £1.27.