For those of you who might remember me from Gail's.....I'm making a career change!!

M

michelle

Well-known member
I'm michelle (formerly in saskatoon, then vancouver, then victoria, then vancouver, now back in saskatoon smileys/smile.gif & i'm an engineer, working as an environmental consultant, which i've been doing for the past 10 yrs. I had started teaching east indian cooking classes last fall, which i love, & that has sort of started me down 'the path', so to speak. i applied, & was accepted, into the farmer's market here (there was a waiting list); it's an exciting time, as they're completely redoing the market area here & are modelling it after the vancouver granville is. public market. i'm also trying to get an after school cooking program started at a local elementary school. plus, working on a business plan for an indoor playground/cafe with a cooking school geared for children (for birthday parties, etc).

these are exciting days for me..........i just wanted to share!! smileys/smile.gif

i also wanted to say how much i am loving this new site! it's just like being back at the old gail's. i haven't been posting, but i certainly check in at least twice a day.

 
Hi michelle, congrats!

What are you planning selling at the Farmer's Markets? I used to sell in San Diego, and loved it. It is a great job, and you are your own boss. Feel free to email me if you need any help or advice. It was a trial by error experience for me, but once I figured out my niche, I did very well. I was in business for about three years, and still would be, if not for our relocation. Good luck and have fun!

http://hillquest.com/movie1.html

 
It's nice to see you here, Michelle. Sounds like lots of wonderful changes taking place ...

in your life. My best wishes!

 
Hi Dawn - we chatted a while back about selling foods, etc.....

I proposed to sell vegetarian sushi (roasted yam, cream cheese/asparagus, roasted red pepper, etc), various curries, squares, mustards, exotic jellies, chutneys, soups/bisques.

The market is sorting things out with the health dep't right now, as they won't sign off b/c it's food (the sushi) that's never been sold at the market before. cabbage rolls are 'allowed', & they're no different that veg. sushi! i may have to rent commercial space to prepare the food to be able to sell.......we'll see. If that happens, I will implement my 2nd business plan as well, which is a lunch delivery service, serving office buildings, etc (where i would just walk in with whatever's avail. that day & people would choose what they want. i'm modelling it after a business in vancouver that we bought from all the time).

 
Hi michelle...

Is the sushi being singled out because they are thinking some kind of protein or raw fish is usually associated with that term? You might consider calling them michelle's vegetarian rice rolls or wraps. (smile) Working with the health department can be tricky, but if you follow their guidelines, there won't be any problems. Most of the inspectors I dealt with were very nice and helpful.
I love the idea of delivering fresh foods to offices. That is something I would like to hear more about. I may be able to do something like that here. I never thought of that, and I think that is a fantastic idea. I will talk to you soon, and let us know how everything is going. How exciting for you!

 
it's just the fact that it's rice, if you can believe it

it's the possibility of toxins growing in the rice (which can happen with anything starchy). yet for some reason, cabbage rolls are ok. the farmer's market people told the health dep't that they're basically being racist by allowing cabbage rolls but not sushi (saskatchewan is heavily populated with ukrainian settlers).

the market really wants to have a lot of new types of foods in their new space, so they're fighting it out for me.

 
Michelle, not sure where you're teching your classes through, but (m)

a good way to build your profile for your own cooking school business is to approach your school district Continuing Ed Dept. I work for a Sch. board and they' re always searching more unique ideas for cont. ed. classes. So if you're not already working through them, consider contacting them and sending them a proposal for your class. Just an idea...

 
i'm teaching them at a local elementary school>>

& i have an app't with the school principal to hand him a proposal for an after-school cooking program.

i'm also proposing to integrate a couple of the classes with a few residents of a nearby senior care home.

wish me luck!

 
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