The cafe is not doing well, so I am changing it up. Coffee and baked goods.

dawn_mo

dawn_mo

Well-known member
I am upstairs at an antique mall, and people just are not coming upstairs, sooooooo, I have decided to do baked goodies and coffee. I will have them available both upstairs and downstairs in my booth. I made some orange-zuke loaves and sold them for $7/each. I didn't really calculate my costs, so I am not sure of the profit on them. I just wanted to try and see if people would buy them, and they did, without a second thought.

I need some ideas and advice from bakers of what sells best for them. Which recipes are the most economical, ways to streamline the process, etc. Thanks so much!!!

 
I am also catering an Italian dinner for 100 of the vendors on Dec.14th.

I am not particularly thrilled about it, but I couldn't turn down the money, and they are treating me so good there. I just love these people that I work with.
I have to go take a look at the center it is being thrown to see what the facilities are like. Talk about overwhelmed, that would be me. Any hints and tips would be most appreciated.

 
Baked ziti is always good--easier to assemble than lasagna and usually less costly.

I have made it ahead and frozen it, unbaked. It's easy to serve a baked pasta. A pasta bar would be a hit but if it involves a steady supply of freshly boiled pasta that would be a challenge for 100.

Chicken Cacciatore or other stew-type dishes are easy to serve.

Chicken Parm, Caesar salad, there's a reason these are always on buffets--they're easy to serve to a large crowd and everyone loves them.

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=15543

 
They have requested lasagnas. I suggested your

Italian sausages with peppers and onions, but they want lasagna. I am not really happy with this job, but who can turn down that kind of money so close to the holidays, or anytime for that matter. Thanks Joe.

 
I think that's a good choice because it can be made ahead, baked on site and it's easy to serve

I usually do vegetarian lasagna so I do the sausage and peppers on the side so everyone is happy, but a great big salad may be all you need.

A beautiful antipasti plater (or two, or four), can be assembled the day before and can make a great first impression.

 
I really like this idea for the spinach lasagna. Then make the

more traditional meat lasagnas. Thanks for posting this Gay, I will use this recipe for the spinach lasagna. Do you really think it is four rolls per serving? That seems like a lot to me.

 
Dawn, I don't know anything really, about running a caf

It is a turn off for me. The antique malls around here are so huge and if I wanted to have some coffee and goodies after buying a few things, I would go somewhere else rather than climb up the stairs. Many folks who have knee aches and pains or back trouble just won't bother. Hopefully there is an elevator, which would give you more access. Frankly, tho, most cafés around here that offer coffee and goodies are in small strip malls, close to local businesses, and professionals, with easy access and outside seating.
There is a cool café next door to one of our antique malls and they do a great business. Is relocating an option for you?

 
Pull them upstairs with great aromas

The two biggies for pulling people in are the smell of fresh popcorn and the other one is cinnamon.

 
Agree. Our coffee canteen bakes cookies at 11:30 to permeate the air with warm

chocolate smells as folks walk by to the cafeteria. Who can resist a gooey, warm chocolate chip cookie? They only bake 24 and sell out immediately ($1.50) every day.

 
That's exactly what I was going to say. There is a little art store/gift shop near me that

has a little bake shop on the main level and there is always the smell of something chocolate baking when I go in there. They have lots of cookies, all varieties and I think they sell for $1 or $1.50 each.

And I think if it were me, I would stay away from trying to sell more-than-single-serving foods. IMHO, when people shop, they would want something they can grab and eat, not take home (such as the more pricey items). But I've never sold food, so I may be all wrong!

Good luck. Anything you make will be wonderful!

 
with the holidays upon us, I think people will look for big items for hostess gifts and breakfast

treats. maybe just a seasonal thing.

 
Dawn, When I made the recipe I used two rolls were more than plenty, but, I am not

a big eater. I do agree 4 seems a little too much.

 
Maybe a little table with samples downstairs, staffed by a smiling helper?

Could a friend/neighbor/niece/nephew/etc. be pressed into service to man the samples table (or even stand with a sample tray) at peak traffic time (maybe for an hour, max)? This might entice people upstairs. Maybe that plus a coupon? A raffle? Just trying to think of ways to get people upstairs...

 
I don't have the option of relocating. These people have been

wonderful to me. They also have a marketing business and are advertising me and marketing me.
I do think the stairs are a problem, but there is a service elevator available. There aren't really any good bakeries around at all, so this could be a very good niche for me. I like to bake, and it is a lot easier since things can be made ahead and even frozen.
I am going to make Cabernet Cranberry Sauce in the kitchen today, and I will be interested in seeing how it attracts people upstairs. There are also booths upstairs now too.
I went through a meltdown last weekend; working 6 days a week, recovering from being sick, doing a festival, losing money and coming home to a house that needed a deep deep cleaning.
I cried on and off for 24 hours. I can finally take the sunglasses off today. smileys/smile.gif Washing the dishes sobbing, was when I realized that people are not going to think of a cafe inside an antique mall, but baked goods might work. I know the clientele better now. I baked 4 large loaves of orange-zuke bread and 4 of pumpkin bread and they all sold within 2 hours, just sitting in a basket in my downstairs booth.
I like the two that Meryl and Ang posted up above.
I am starting to make a list of items to sell.
So far I have this list:. Obviously, I will have to work up this quantity, but I will start with the quick breads.

Quick Breads:
Orange-Zuke Bread
Pumpkin Bread
Cranberry Nut Bread
Chocolate Zuke Bread

Cookies:
Chocolate Chip
Oatmeal Cranberry-Raisin
Peanut Butter w/ Hershey's Kiss
Chocolate Mint (the ones with the Ande's mint)
Chocolate-Dipped Macaroons

Scones:
Vanilla
Cinnamon Chip
Pumpkin

Biscotti:
Lemon-Pistachio
Ginger dipped in White Chocolate
Almond

Savories:
Foccacia
Cheddar-Scallion Scones
Rustic Pizzas (may be too close to the foccacia)

Any pros or cons to the above list? Thank you all so very much!!!





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