Learning the finer points of coffee
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Easter Brake
Nope, that's not a typo. I do mean brake. Both Good Friday and Easter Monday are national holidays, so the banks and grocery stores are closed and none of the bars open until midnight. It's another one of those cultural nuances we didn't pick up on when planning the restaurant, so we are moving our opening date back to April 11. It will end up being a good thing, however, because we will get in more staff training.
Friday night at midnight there was a huge explosion - sounded like a bomb going off - and then much cheering and yelling coming from the streets below. The bars were open again. Whew! That was a long 24 hours. Kiwis rival the Irish in their love of their pubs.
JB had a slight altercation with a bad gasman (another long story) and now has a really great gasman doing the hookups for equipment. When they turned on the gas the other night, the gas line started leaking because the bad gasman didn't weld the lines correctly. Lenin was filled with gas the next morning. Then the good gasman came and proposed a plan to correct the situation. They will attack the problem on Tuesday (after the holiday). Hopefully they can fix it from Lenin's side and not have to tear our wall out.
Tyler put the employment ad in the NZ Herald on Monday and we have had lots of interest all week. He has been handing out job apps (you can also download from www.mexicalifresh.co.nz), planning the schedule, and will be conducting interviews next week (after the holiday). Even with the lowest unemployment rate in the Western world (3.8%) we have had many really good applicants.
Mike has found a place that makes fresh corn and flour tortillas here in Auckland. The company has a French name and doesn't advertise, which is why we didn't find them right off. They have a great product and will supply us all of the torts we can use.
Conor's signs are AWESOME. He and JB signed off on the paper cutouts last week so they are now in production. He is also working with Insight on development of the menuboard which will be a framed chalkboard. The design looks great. I will put up a jpg so you can all see it.
Last week Conor, Malcolm and I worked with the installer for Micros setting up and training on the point of sale system. Next week all of us (except JB) go to coffee training to learn to make the perfect flat white, long black and latte. After we pass that, we get to go to milk school. Did you know that the ideal milk topping on a flat white should be the consistency of shaving cream?
I found a little bakery who has agreed to do our cinnamon rolls. The only other baker who does that sells theirs exclusively to Starbucks. Our breakfast menu is pretty well set: breakfast burritos, cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins, croissants, juice and coffee. Since we are in a very heavy tourist area, we will open at 7 and serve breakfast until 11:00.
There are so many little stories to tell - I will try to get the guys to contribute a little more so you don't hear everything from my perspective.
Have a wonderful Easter!
Friday night at midnight there was a huge explosion - sounded like a bomb going off - and then much cheering and yelling coming from the streets below. The bars were open again. Whew! That was a long 24 hours. Kiwis rival the Irish in their love of their pubs.
JB had a slight altercation with a bad gasman (another long story) and now has a really great gasman doing the hookups for equipment. When they turned on the gas the other night, the gas line started leaking because the bad gasman didn't weld the lines correctly. Lenin was filled with gas the next morning. Then the good gasman came and proposed a plan to correct the situation. They will attack the problem on Tuesday (after the holiday). Hopefully they can fix it from Lenin's side and not have to tear our wall out.
Tyler put the employment ad in the NZ Herald on Monday and we have had lots of interest all week. He has been handing out job apps (you can also download from www.mexicalifresh.co.nz), planning the schedule, and will be conducting interviews next week (after the holiday). Even with the lowest unemployment rate in the Western world (3.8%) we have had many really good applicants.
Mike has found a place that makes fresh corn and flour tortillas here in Auckland. The company has a French name and doesn't advertise, which is why we didn't find them right off. They have a great product and will supply us all of the torts we can use.
Conor's signs are AWESOME. He and JB signed off on the paper cutouts last week so they are now in production. He is also working with Insight on development of the menuboard which will be a framed chalkboard. The design looks great. I will put up a jpg so you can all see it.
Last week Conor, Malcolm and I worked with the installer for Micros setting up and training on the point of sale system. Next week all of us (except JB) go to coffee training to learn to make the perfect flat white, long black and latte. After we pass that, we get to go to milk school. Did you know that the ideal milk topping on a flat white should be the consistency of shaving cream?
I found a little bakery who has agreed to do our cinnamon rolls. The only other baker who does that sells theirs exclusively to Starbucks. Our breakfast menu is pretty well set: breakfast burritos, cinnamon rolls, blueberry muffins, croissants, juice and coffee. Since we are in a very heavy tourist area, we will open at 7 and serve breakfast until 11:00.
There are so many little stories to tell - I will try to get the guys to contribute a little more so you don't hear everything from my perspective.
Have a wonderful Easter!
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Sunday, March 20, 2005
15 days and counting
Well its official, the first day projected for Opening Mexicali Fresh is April 4th 2005. Although there is an incredible amount to be done we think that it is going to happen as planned. The inside is really starting to take shape, the walls are up and the coats of paint are being applied. All of my Mum and I's design work has been behind the scenes until now. We are getting to the stage where the bells and whistles are going up and Mexicali's personality is being seen. Now that the neon signs, menuboards, logos, and murals are scheduled and underway I get to tend to my side project, the media server. We are having a projector installed outside onto one of our walls and I am going to have my own personal window to the world. I plan on showing everything from old movies and personal projects, to advertising for our food and special events. It should be fun having my own personal audience, I have a lot up my sleeve. JB and Mikey (JR)have managed to get most of the cooking equipment in place, this week we should be able to fire up the bar-b and get some food testing underway. I cant wait to start cookin, we have been living off of the samples that the distributors have dropped off for about a month now, cheese and tortillas can only be made so many ways. Its not that we cant afford food just that we have been so busy adapting and working that we hardly have a chance to sit down and enjoy a home cooked meal. Tyler arrived this last weekend and it so happened to be the move in day to our new Villa. So after a month of posh apartment living we have now moved into a beautiful 3 bedroom home just 10 blocks from the restaurant. Its only been a week and we have not spent much time there so I will keep the blog updated how much we truly like it. Mike and I will take some pics and post them on the web....stay tuned! Till next time,
Conor
Conor
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Big News!
We have had a very good week indeed. On Monday we got the call that our liquor license had been approved, and then today we heard from Immigration that our Long Term Business Visa had been granted. Even though I knew we had a very solid business plan, I lost lots of sleep waiting for the official word. Whew!
We've got the employment ads in the paper, Tyler and Malcolm did liquor school today, and everything else is moving right along. We may have to tweak one sign (the one with the arrow) to meet sign codes, but they are on order and in progress.
We have a very nice espresso machine on order, but have decided to add one little bit of Americana to the menu . . . a cuppa Joe. Not only is it troublesome to find the coffee, it's pretty much impossible to find a commercial drip coffee machine. The only place you can get drip or brewed coffee in all of Auckland is at Starbucks. Now you can at Mexicali Fresh as well. Actually, JB, Mike and Conor are probably the only ones who will be drinking it. Americans are such heathens when it comes to coffee!
We've got the employment ads in the paper, Tyler and Malcolm did liquor school today, and everything else is moving right along. We may have to tweak one sign (the one with the arrow) to meet sign codes, but they are on order and in progress.
We have a very nice espresso machine on order, but have decided to add one little bit of Americana to the menu . . . a cuppa Joe. Not only is it troublesome to find the coffee, it's pretty much impossible to find a commercial drip coffee machine. The only place you can get drip or brewed coffee in all of Auckland is at Starbucks. Now you can at Mexicali Fresh as well. Actually, JB, Mike and Conor are probably the only ones who will be drinking it. Americans are such heathens when it comes to coffee!
Sunday, March 13, 2005
March Madness
Things are running fast and furious now as we head down the home stretch. Tyler arrived on Saturday morning at 5:30 am, which wasn’t so bad until he had to call his brother to come and get him. Conor had his alarm set for 6:30! Luckily at that time of the day there is little to no traffic on the Southern Motorway and they were back at our apartment by 7:30 for streaky bacon and eggs.
Things are really starting to take shape, as you can see from the photo albums on the right. Coming up this week: finalizing the electric and lighting, painting the floor, installing some equipment, the sound system and projector. Tyler and Malcolm are in Liquor Training and we order the servers in preparation for setting up the Point of Sale System next week. Since the countertops won’t yet be installed, we will set up the entire POS system in our apartment and do the training there. Then we will pick up the whole thing (server, terminals, cables and all) and relocate to their proper locations in the restaurant. We are finalizing the pricing and menu board, purveyors and staffing needs. Tyler and I will tackle the employee manual, advertising and begin interviewing next week. We have found a local supplier for Mexican chorizo!
The boys have found a really nice house in Freeman’s Bay near Ponsonby. It’s about a 20 minute walk to the restaurant through Victoria Park and along the Viaduct where the America’s Cup was held in 2003. It’s an older style “villa” with original kauri wood floors, white picket fence and a peaked view of Rangitoto. They even have a 2-car garage which is quite unusual.
If you plan on coming to visit in 2005, you’d better get your name booked into the Buell Bed & Breakfast. In August former Mexicali manager Lisa Lee will be coming with her daughter and brother. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving with David & Paula Day, and my parents will be with us for Christmas and most of January. We hope by then we will have a nice little place on the beach for everyone to relax and enjoy.
There’s not much time for golf or relaxation for the next month or so, but JB and I are going to try to sneak out tonight to see “Million Dollar Baby.” We haven’t been to the movies since we’ve been here, and it is playing just up the road.
We are all watching March Madness . . . who do you love?
Things are really starting to take shape, as you can see from the photo albums on the right. Coming up this week: finalizing the electric and lighting, painting the floor, installing some equipment, the sound system and projector. Tyler and Malcolm are in Liquor Training and we order the servers in preparation for setting up the Point of Sale System next week. Since the countertops won’t yet be installed, we will set up the entire POS system in our apartment and do the training there. Then we will pick up the whole thing (server, terminals, cables and all) and relocate to their proper locations in the restaurant. We are finalizing the pricing and menu board, purveyors and staffing needs. Tyler and I will tackle the employee manual, advertising and begin interviewing next week. We have found a local supplier for Mexican chorizo!
The boys have found a really nice house in Freeman’s Bay near Ponsonby. It’s about a 20 minute walk to the restaurant through Victoria Park and along the Viaduct where the America’s Cup was held in 2003. It’s an older style “villa” with original kauri wood floors, white picket fence and a peaked view of Rangitoto. They even have a 2-car garage which is quite unusual.
If you plan on coming to visit in 2005, you’d better get your name booked into the Buell Bed & Breakfast. In August former Mexicali manager Lisa Lee will be coming with her daughter and brother. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving with David & Paula Day, and my parents will be with us for Christmas and most of January. We hope by then we will have a nice little place on the beach for everyone to relax and enjoy.
There’s not much time for golf or relaxation for the next month or so, but JB and I are going to try to sneak out tonight to see “Million Dollar Baby.” We haven’t been to the movies since we’ve been here, and it is playing just up the road.
We are all watching March Madness . . . who do you love?
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Monday, March 07, 2005
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