The Food and Beverage Thread

[TheMatrix31]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Jesus....that paella looks UNBELIEVABLE.

[ezekiel55]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Just got some great news, in terms of my career, for the first time in a long time.

My friend and I had an idea to start a catering business together about a year ago. Due to the economy and other unforseen circumstances, I couldnt devote nearly as much time and effort as I would've liked. I've helped where I could, but had to remain with my current job (health insurance, salary, etc...), and to put it mildy it's been extremely frustrating. We have received an amazing opportunity that I can finally devote 100% effort towards, finally.

Through word of mouth and reviews we received, we've been selected to cater a Carrie Underwood photo shoot this Saturday...obviously, its the same as any other job, but if we wow them (which I dont doubt we'll do) this could open numerous doors for us.

I'm super nervous and excited right now...plus its a really small shoot (about 15 people) so I'll get to see Carrie up close and personal (must remain professional...must remain professional...must remain professional...)

I hope it goes well.

[Stumbleweed]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Hahaha wear 3 sets of underwear to keep things on lock when you are around her.

Congrats, sounds like a great opportunity!

I've been toying with the idea of starting a delivery business to fenagle expanding my kitchen (deduct from taxes as a business expense) and also to theoretically make some extra money. Gotta get serious and look into what exactly has to happen to make and sell food from my house (it would all be delivered, but I know in-home operations get a lot of scrutiny for cleanliness, etc.). But really, I'm mostly thinking about expanding my kitchen...

[ezekiel55]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

I've worked in professional kitchens before, and its absolutely awful...catering is the way to go. Less stress, no pompous chef thumbing his nose at you, and you make you're own hours (all depends on how hard you want to work).

The buddy I work with had to do most of the leg work to get it off the ground (he gives me hell for it all the time). He had to get certified through sanitation classes and there were some other things he had to take care of that I cant recall off the top of my head. We were thinking about getting our liquor licensce, but that turned into a MAJOR headache, so we put the kibosh on it.

We use my buddies kitchen to prep most of the food, and most of the photoshoots we go to have kitchenettes with ovens (which is a godsend).

Most caterers start from their home kitchen, I wouldnt worry about, or advertise it for that matter (we dont ).

[Stumbleweed]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Yeah I'd theoretically be delivering pies (savory and sweet), empanadas, tarts, quiches, dumplings, pierogies... basically anything delicious wrapped in a dough/crust as well as homemade ice cream. Imagine getting a homemade peach pie with a pint of cinnamon ice cream delivered to your house for $20 or so -- there's some people with enough money around here (especially downtown, office parties, etc.) to make that a business for sure and the overhead would be pretty good since materials are cheap in bulk.

But yeah, I need to look into it because I know pretty much each state has different laws on this kind of thing. I could always start under the table, but I really want to remodel my kitchen and a home business is really the only way that would happen in the next 5 years or so.

[Phobia]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Sounds like a pretty good plan Stumble. Good way to further fine tune your cooking skills also.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Stumble, you would need to set up a site especially for OS users so we could order some pies.

[funky_chicken]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Stumble, you would need to set up a site especially for OS users so we could order some pies.

If Stumble is making cherry, peach, dutch apple or key lime pies I am ordering.

[gopadres]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Wow, I'm hungry after reading this. I want some of Stumbleweed's paella!!

[DaveDQ]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

I love making pizza. I'm in the process of finishing a backyard brick oven that has taken almost a year to complete. The Summer made it come to a halt. Anyway, here's some pizzas I have done...

[Stumbleweed]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Nice... I'm jealous of your brick oven for sure... you could use that for some serious bread too. Cool stuff, and those pizzas look great. I bet your kid couldn't wait to tear into that monster cheese pizza haha.

Pizza is one of the things I need to start doing... nothing better than a well-made pizza crust with some nice cheese. I'm a super thin crust Italian style pizza kind of guy, so most of mine will be olive oil-based with things like proscuitto, goat cheese, and artichoke hearts on them.

[sportznut02]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Had some Swordfish on the grill tonight, I swear I could eat that stuff every night.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Anybody ever made pumpkin or banana bread? I have a couple of recipe books (20 minutes or less and "guy" recipe type books) and there are some for pumpkin bread (a short and long recipe) that I've been wanting to do since I love pumpkin bread.

I love making pizza too, although I usually do that when I'm cooking for just me. I'll use a whole tube of Pillsbury pizza crest and make that **** nice and thick. Then pile on the sauce, cheese, toppings, cheese. Love it.

[sportznut02]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Anybody ever made pumpkin or banana bread? I have a couple of recipe books (20 minutes or less and "guy" recipe type books) and there are some for pumpkin bread (a short and long recipe) that I've been wanting to do since I love pumpkin bread.

Love both banana and pumpkin bread, especially with a little bit of cream cheese spread on it.

[DaveDQ]

Re: The Food and Beverage Thread

Nice... I'm jealous of your brick oven for sure... you could use that for some serious bread too. Cool stuff, and those pizzas look great. I bet your kid couldn't wait to tear into that monster cheese pizza haha.

Pizza is one of the things I need to start doing... nothing better than a well-made pizza crust with some nice cheese. I'm a super thin crust Italian style pizza kind of guy, so most of mine will be olive oil-based with things like proscuitto, goat cheese, and artichoke hearts on them.

Yes, the bread is something I look forward to. I love a good bread with my meals.

I love food. I think it's art. I really do. We all learned how to do it from someone/somewhere, so we have an influence. You know, if you look at a painting or piece of art, you might say, "That looks like Van Gogh." I think it's the same for food. I may eat something and immediately start to think of where I tasted it before or what it reminds me of. I love it. Not to go on and on about it, but that's how I feel.