h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A friend from Humboldt Co is setting up a specialty bakery, and wanted some help with the chocolate goods. After a couple months of leaving messages for each other, she got ahold of me last weekend, and talked me into sorting out their chocolate goods. I readily accepted her offer to pay me to do something I enjoy doing.

Two days later, I set out early (7am) to arrive at her place in Humboldt by 10am, and started trying to make myself useful. I worked most of four days, and got back last night.

Helping with the chocolate goods turned out to be all about tempering the chocolate, something I'm good at. I also worked on developing a line of vegan chocolate truffles, something I've been meaning to do for ages. Nothing like a looming deadline to inspire me. I'm particularly pleased with the way the vegan chai truffles turned out.

It all went extremely well, and we have talked about making this a long-term arrangement, at least until I can get my commercial kitchen opened closer to home. My assignment once I got home was to sniff out likely places for my commercial chocolate kitchen.

Today I stopped by a commercial realtor to see about leasing a space. There aren't many suitable spaces available, most are too big or couldn't be easily converted into a food handling facility. But there were a few to chase down, and there are also three relatively small commercial properties for sale.

There is one small old house that is zoned commercial. Another was recently a mortuary. The least likely one was some kind of automotive place; I'm not really sure how that can be converted to a commercial kitchen.

In any case, I need to see if my ganache is ready to roll, as I've a few homemade chocolates to make too.

Was this the same person you came up here to see when you were wrapped in paper (at least the juvenile variety) ?

Chai ? Considering how much I like chai, that's likely even better than the mate ones (which just barely edged out the chili ones for my favorite)!

The one I was saying I've begun to despair of ever getting ahold of her? Yes!

Well, our building is about ready--the owner only missed his self-imposed deadline by a day, pellet stove is installed, though smokey (that's being figured out today, hopefully) and shelves should be up in the next few days. Don't know when the soft opening will be, though. As far as I know, the offer of shelf space for still stands

Very cool.

Of course, you do realize that Faith would insist on personal delivery

*recalls PaperKid having a chocolate smudge on her face pre-breakfast.*

I'm sure she would.

I was remembering the begging for you to stay

(I think I've scared off any other responders)

Not at all, Amy. My few subscribers are a hardy lot, not easily scared.

I have a 9am appointment with the commercial realtor to see the small house that is zoned commercial C-1.

I also want to get over to the county office and sign up for the test for Food Safety Manager, required to operate any food-handling business.

The scale came in very handy, btw--everything was packaged in quarter-pound lots--glazed nuts, 7 flavors of fudge, and hard peppermint candy I took to calling "Bag-o-Glass"

>>>"Bag-o-Glass"



Another bit of good shop news, my old trademark that I let expire is still unclaimed. I just have to wade around on http://www.uspto.gov/ and figure out how to administer CPR.

Somehow, I thought you'd recognize the allusion

Of course, my bags were much smaller, and the "glass" is green. Probably would've sold better had I gotten around to getting candy molds, and the floor would've been a *lot* less sticky without flying shards of sugar...

And you probably didn't place a plastic bag over your head because it is such a great toy, according to Dan Aykroyd.

Very dear Happy Nerd and amy,

so that is what you have been up to - starting up a retails outlet for your creative chocolate selves. Wonderful.

I shall come over on my virtual magic carpet and get some super goodies for Christmas.

It was so good to read about your enterpirses and also to have second hand news about Faith.

With much affection to you all

christiane
Ar80
7/XII/2009 11.GMT

I just had a craft fair booth to supply--HN's the chocolatier.

Now that I have a functional keyboard again, I really should write a journal or 3...

Well, I might be, if I can get a shop open!

Okay, the visit to the small house zoned C-1 turned out to be a bust, as the other party (current tenant) did not keep the appointment. We could only look at the outside.

Our agent said he'd try to make a new appointment, and in the meantime, we made an appointment for this Friday to see the other property.

In the meanwhile, all I have to do to revive my old trademark is re-file for it. And the soonest I can take the Food Safety Manager test is March 10. Due to budget cutbacks, the county no longer administers the test each month.

Good good luck to our two bidding Choclateers Amy and Happy Nerd. !

When you are in production I shall order some for you to send to my brother in New York. !!

Much affection

Christiane

9/XII/2009 18.15 GMT !

Yay, a customer!

Quickly send me details and you might even be able to send he and his family chocolates instead of the flowers that I always send them.

With many thanks.

Christiane

10/X!!/2009 7.56 GMT

If you will cover my shipping costs, Christiane, I'll be glad to send a selection of the chocolates I'll be making for Christmas. Legally, I can't sell any foods commercially that I make in my home. I can only sell from a certified commercial kitchen, which I don't have yet.

The law says nothing about sharing.

Incidentally, I came down with a head cold yesterday, and am not handling food for anyone but myself until I'm well. I hope to be back to making chocolates Monday.

I am janna dot ostoya at gmail dot com


HN