"Y'all Need To Eat"

This was the day for oral presentations: first, from each team working on next week's luncheon fundraiser, then from each of us individually, detailing our plans for our catering businesses.

Andy is opening a bakery/catering shop in Minneapolis with a decidedly Danish bent, and he's calling it "Scandy's," for obvious reasons that he nevertheless had to explain to most of the class. Andrea will be in the southern 'burbs near Reno, doing a Mediterranean-style lunch business along the lines of Boulette's Larder" in the Ferry Building. Not much competition for that kind of up-scale business. Peter brought up the pros and cons of each proposal, and Andrea's challenge will be guaranteeing receipt of her ingredients and supplies, given the wintertime transportation issues.

Sam is doing an upscale taco truck (she said her fiancé cried when she described the concept: "That's not why you're in culinary school!") She's going to market her gourmet tacos at construction sites and, more interestingly, outside of the SOMA dance clubs right around closing time. "Make friends with the local police," Peter suggested. "Feed them for free." She can get an entirely outfitted truck for just under $65,000 (less than a Porsche, with a lot more storage space.)

Alex will be in Idaho, in a resort area. He's going to do his own charcuterie. And he'll also provide a necessary local service: butchery of the local wild catch. If you bring in a carcass weighing 100 pounds or more to be butchered, he'll knock 15% off your next catering order.

Silvia's aiming for the high end of the event market in San Diego. I told her that we'll have to keep in touch, in case I know somebody who might be throwing a big fancy party in that area. Fitz is doing vegan food on a commune/retreat center in the Santa Cruz mountains. "I got lots of people to work for me," he said. "Most of them aren't wearing any shoes, though."

Meghan's locating her business, "Y'all Need to Eat," in suburban Charleston, South Carolina. "There are only two competitors," she said, "and they pose no threat."

"They're probably afraid of you," Peter observed. She's a force to be reckoned with.