I Think I'm In Over My Head With My Dream Come True (Long)
Decorating By DelightsByE Updated 26 Mar 2007 , 6:14pm by kjgjam22
Good evening! I need to get some advice from my CC friends PLEASE!!
For years now I've been a home baker, part time with a real full-time job at a bank. Last summer I made friends with a restaurant/catering outfit and they started sending me a lot of wedding referrals 
I started getting busier and busier doing cakes, so busy I actually had to turn down a few jobs because I was so busy. I was in hog-heaven, totally stressed out and burning the candle at both ends AND in the middle, but loving the cake work.
This February, my friends purchased a big event center to do banquets, with a HUGE commercial kitchen. They offered me the use of the kitchen to do my cakes, storage space for all my stuff, and part of a walk-in cooler for my refrigeratables. All I'd need to do was give them a percentage of my cake contracts, which I felt (and still do) is totally reasonable. I happily agreed, since it meant that I could be licensed and legal (they knew beforehand that I wasn't).
They also now have a standing order for me to provide them with 8 cheesecakes a week for the restaurant, which I also make there, at a wholesale price because I use their facility but I purchase all my own supplies and just use their oven. I make them on Sunday and it basically takes me all day.
Now here comes the problem part. They've been asking me to do more and more orders for them, which is great, but I still work at the bank full time and still burning that candle I mentioned before. The problem is, whenever I am there working, I am in the way of the other kitchen staff, we are constantly tripping over each other. The Executive Chef gives me the impression that he would prefer me be there when the other staff are not. Now - I have made some changes to my bank schedule that might help with that, but so far nobody has given me a key to the place. I've asked, and they keep telling me they will get me one, but it's been a month and still no key. Today I happened to ask one of the managers about the key again, and he said "why would they give you a key, you're not an employee, you're a subcontractor." Of course that makes sense, but now I'm feeling I might just be in an untenable situation here.
I am contemplating asking my church if I could rent their kitchen instead, since it is hardly ever used and I would never be in anyone's way. I could still do the cheesecakes for the restaurant (and charge them a little more) and do my cakes too.
But I still have this dream of the restaurant asking me to be their full-time pastry chef and pay me a salary. Of course - they'd have to put in a separate pastry kitchen (yaaa right) or at least give me a key so I can come in and work off-hours.
Can anyone help me with any suggestions???
Thanks!
Well, either they want you to do all that stuff and then give you a key, or you will have to find other alternatives. Maybe you have to really sit them down and talk to them. They seem to be really interested in your cakes, but you can't go on like this forever. You need to be able to come in when you have the time, not when they are open. Talk to the owner, the person who gives the orders to you not one of the staff
Definately talk to the owner about this. If you can try to phrase so it looks like it will work in their favour.
Paitently explain to them that you are really happy about being allowed to use their kitchen but with all the orders you are now getting you are worried about being in THEIR way because you know how busy THEY are. Then just mention how you would be willing to work when they aren't and then bring up the key issue.
I have found that if I have flattered the other party before bringing my needs into the picture thing tend to run a lot smoother.
Good luck with that
I agree, flattery is sometimes the only way. Plus you stated that it was your friends that purchased the event center, are these the ones that haven't given you a key? Maybe if you talk with them things will go more smoothly. Good luck.
Ok I used to work as a pastry chef and I had a key even though I had little "power" you would say. I used to get that look like why do you have a key....Well I get here at five am! Do you!???
Get the key or walk away. You are basically paying them to rent the space. It would be like if you rented a apartment but could not go in unless they let you in. You are paying for this right to come and go if needed!
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