A Couple More Things

Just a quick entry to say a couple things.

Yesterday the message was relayed to us from a co-worker of a friend. Said co-worker (who happens to be female) shared that Bikini Coffee in downtown Portland has the best rice krispies. Ever. And they are so big.

Fantastic. We can now begin our official adoring-public count. I'm sure the count is larger than those who actually comment on the goods, but we shouldn't assume too much―it makes us look conceited.

Also our logo is finished. Here it is in all its glory. Pretty, huh?

Seattle Coffee Fest

The Seattle Coffee Fest was something to witness. All kinds of booths hawking all kinds of coffee related items strewed the fourth floor the of the Seattle convention center. Bakeries, coffee suppliers, coffee roasters, cafe designers, tea suppliers, smoothie people, energy drink people. Ugh. It was endless. There was even a glycerin insole booth. Everywhere one turned there was a smiley person with some sort of energetic pitch ready to accost.

At first the experience was freakish―too many happy people in one place is unnerving. We soon understood why the energy in the place appeared endless―several booths were handing out free shots of espresso. Ugh. Needless to say, we soon joined in the sickening glut of energy. What fools.

One booth had an aura of listlessness, though. And ironically, it was some energy drink booth. Amusing. A bleary eyed fellow with silver hair to the shoulders and a short beard stood behind the booth. "You wanna try this natural energy drink, dude?" His torpid appeal would have lulled a rabid dog to sleep. He was a stereotype straight from the seventies.

"Sure." We might as well try it. One can never get enough energy, right?

His left eye, half covered by a droopy eye lid, twitched as he handed us a sample. I don't recall his exact words as we took the samples, but I'm sure it went something like, "This is healthier than blueberries. It makes you feel better than a Guns & Roses concert. And it grows on a fifty foot tall tree, dude." Or something like that. Whatever it was, I'm sure it was informative.

There were two things we did while at Coffee Fest that were especially useful. First, we watched a documentary on the history and reason behind Cafe Feminino―the place Shawna wants to buy our coffee from. It was very interesting and nice. The coffee may be more expensive than others, but I'm sure the fuzzy feeling that comes from helping out impoverished folk is worth the cost.

The second useful thing we did was taste My Chai's blends. The teas were fantastic. If the syrups are half as fantastic then we made a great decision for a supplier.

As was mentioned, we sucked down shots of espresso, smoothie mix, and chai tea all day long. And through necessity of perusing all booths before leaving, we also managed to skip lunch. Too much coffee and too little food is a great combination for crankiness. We were all a bunch of cranky-pants by the time we finally began the journey home. Thankfully, everyone slept the three hours home. Well, except for the driver. But he enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Anonymous Alcoholic Needed

A week ago the task was given to locate and obtain the best vanilla possible. Vanilla is common in baked goods and Sweet Thing is not interested in mediocrity, so for the best we searched. According to reviews of many baker people on many websites, the best vanilla extract was found. A sample is currently on its way here. But through the research required to find the best vanilla extract, it was discovered that one could make his or her own vanilla extract if desired. Who knew? It was also discovered that real vanilla extract is at least 35% alcohol (37.8 -- or something like that -- is optimal). This fact would require us to purchase vodka in order to create our own vanilla extract. This brings a blaring fact to light: we know nothing of vodka.

Internet information only gets one so far. As far as what makes a good vodka beats me with a stick. So if anyone out there has made vanilla extract before and wouldn't mind granting advice, we would be thankful. Or if anyone just happens to have vast amounts of vodka knowledge on hand, that may help too.

Yesterday we took a field trip to Rose's Equipment here in Portland. It is a big honking warehouse of new and used restaurant equipment. We wandered through three stories of really big ovens, refrigerators, and sauna-sized mixers and wrote down items we would need. It was a load of fun. For some reason ridiculously large things intrigue people greatly. After we had completed our tour, our salesperson introduced us to a nice fellow with James Dean hair. This big-haired fellow walked us through how he could help us with kitchen design, equipment placement, etc. Rose's employees really made us feel they could help us and would go out of their way to help us. Customer service is a powerful thing.

Today we are going to finally set up the business bank account. Woohoo. That makes us more official than before. Grants and loans will be completed soon after and then we'll really be rolling.

Shawna keeps her focus wonderfully. She has a vision and works toward it constantly. Some of us have the ability to fraternize with doubt when there is no visible progress. Not Shawna, though, there ain't nothin' gonna get in her way. Thank goodness for people like her. Now that mammoth sized equipment has been seen and floor plans are in the foreseeable future, even doubters have begun to share her elation.

Tomorrow we will take another field trip up to Coffee Fest in Seattle. It's actually a three day event, but who has three days to blow? We hope to get in on three classes and learn everything about the coffee industry as we tour through all fifty billion exhibits. Sounds reasonable to me. We'll see, though.

I love baking!

"I hate baking." Kindra's body slouches at a dejected angle as she kneads the scone dough. She pauses and turns to her auditor. "I mean, baking's not so bad, but when you do the same thing day after day after day it gets kinda old. I can't wait until we're doing coffee."

This was Kindra's sentiment after two weeks of baking the same recipes day after day. Now, however, if she wishes to complain it will have to be on account of something else—she has plenty of new stuff to bake all of the sudden. Shawna has been in talks with a new catering company in town. The company does the food stuff, but wants to contract out the desserts. A perfect customer.

So Kindra is busy today creating recipes that would work well for what the catering company desires. Apparently it wants mostly little desserts. Dainty. Not big honkers like we are used to producing. New recipes. New pastry sizes. I'm sure Kindra beyond elated.

It has been decided lately, concerning Bikini, that Sweet Thing will no longer deliver baked goods on the weekend. Apparently no one eats pastries on the weekend. Or maybe all these men that frequent the shop during the work week are not so keen to do so when their family is with them? None-the-less nothing sells on the weekend and who are we to defy the laws of Supply and Demand? If nothing sells we refuse to deliver. It's nice, too, because it gives the baker Saturday off.

On a more pleasant Bikini note (Kindra would argue that possibility) the scones have been selling very well. They even sold out a couple of days! That's wonderful. The scones are extremely tasty and apparently people are finally beginning to learn this. Took them long enough.

Below is a part of Shawna's cake, a blueberry scone, the greatest thing since sweet bread (ham and cheese Pan), a pineapple-coconut muffin, and "fun with chocolate."

Lots of People

Is it December yet? Phooey. When Sweet Thing opens its shop life will be grand. Until then its Shawna's kitchen. Not that it isn't beautiful, but it isn't as exciting as possible.

This weekend was full and hectic. Family, friends, investors, and just random interested people were all around. Several folks were blessed enough to be able to taste the most wonderful baked good ever made (no I'm not biased, it's really good) -- the pineapple upside down muffin. Its sticky, gooey goodness delighted all. Gramps thought it was okay too.

Group tours of the soon-to-be shop were given, too. Not that that act was rewarding in anyway... unless you have an imagination. It is a big building with lots of dust. But I'm sure when Shawna's imaginations are realized it will be a very beautiful place. It has fantastically tall ceilings and cement floors. Past that any description wouldn't be accurate for the final plans haven't been completed yet. Suffice it to say it'll be the best designed bakehouse/coffee shop ever. Bar none.

Stan and Morgan came yesterday and brought along their sweet-tooth enthusiasm. Ideas flowed from them like odor from a bakehouse. Unbridled. Enticing, but not necessarily fulfilling. Just kidding, some were excellent. The best idea heard from Stan's scone-hole all weekend was the simplest one: sell goods at the Portland Farmers Market. Grand plan. There's a few hoops to jump through -- apparently a farmers market is not an example of perfect competition (it has barriers to entry) -- but we're looking into it. We aren't necessarily looking to make millions at the moment (not that we'd complain about such), just get our name out there. So a plan like Stan's is good.

It was mind boggling to realize how many people follow the evolution of Sweet Thing. We definitely do not lack for support. I only hope we can accommodate the massive crowd that will indubitably attend the grand opening in December.