Market or not to Market?

So, been doing a bit of research lately, trolling around the various markets of Broadbeach, Surfers, Miami Marketta, Palm Beach, Burleigh, Nerang and really, here's where I'm after your feedback. . . . ... . . . . . To market or not to market?  I have found there to be a large gap in the food stalls for healthy options.  I know you're at a farmers market, you're surrounded by healthy fruits and vegetables, but nothing put together.  It's all bacon and egg rolls, turkish quesadilla's, deep fried falafel or chicken and cakes, let's not forget all the delicious sugary delights to indulge upon.  I'm all about the healthy eating these days, not just to keep the fat at bay but for cleaner healthier insides, for the positive all over feeling I get, Also, I'm getting older and with disease and terminal illness on the rise instead of diminishing I want to reap the benefits from nutrients, anti-oxidants, vitamins etc., because the earth provided us seeds to sew, grow, eat and repeat!  Plus I now have a business and see potential opportunities available for healthy and delicious salads, wraps, gluten free muffins and muesli bars. . . . . YUM!  Now doesn't that sound more appetising than a hot dog?

For now, we're just doing the investigative and market research to check viability but it seems like there is a niche in 'the market' (pardon the pun) and TASTE  TOURS has every intention of filling it!
If you have a suggestion of what you think would make a great snack or lunch option at the markets, please let me know and we'll see what we can do!!!  Until next time, have a great week and keep smiling! xo

FOOD FANTASTIC @ The Gold Coast Show!

TASTE  TOURS has been given the fantastic opportunity of opening the FOOD  FANTASTIC  tent on the first day of the Gold Coast Show, 31 August!  With approximately over 20,000 visitors expected to attend this year it will be wonderful exposure and a chance to showcase to the Gold Coast locals and visitors just what talented chefs we have at our disposal.

Showcasing their talents in 45min. chef demonstrations will be:

10am-10.15am    Woody of THAI  THAI  cooking a traditional Thai Green Curry with coconut rice
11am-11.15am  Warren of THE  WINE  BARREL cooking pork belly with chilli caramel and prawn & coriander dumplings
12pm-12.15pm  SEBASTIEN of INSIDE  TASTE curing salmon with                                                        fruit sferification
                                                     1pm-1.15pm    James of SAMPHIRE  BITES schucking and                                                                                garnishing Oysters  
Be sure to come on down and show your support, sample the delicious meals cooking in our kitchen and enter the draw to win a TASTE  TOUR of your own!

PAPERWORK. . . . BLAARGH

I always look forward to the end of the financial year.  The chance to start fresh and anew, the intention to keep organised and up to date in all areas of business, car maintenance, personal development and health.  The nice little 'bonus' to that hits my bank account at the beginning of the month, soon to be depleted before the end of the month. . . . . .  and so it goes.  Somehow, I inevitably get off track rather early in the piece and keeping my cash book up to date is the real thorn in my side.

My system is this: throw every and any receipts into a bowl housed next to our fruit bowl.  Once a week, I clean this bowl out, right up any tax deductions and purchases into my cashbook so that I can be ready to submit my monthly and / or quarterly P&L Report to my business mentor at NEIS.  This is a job I procrastinate on quite a bit. . . . . .  this and the whole social media stuff!  So, the picture above is basically a picture of what I have to do today.  Complete all entries, photocopy and then file all receipts for if and when I ever get audited.  I know I could have a computer cashbook, but I do actually enjoy making the entries and I find it quite relaxing, meditative work - like a sudoku; I enjoy numbers, enjoy putting them in all the right columns and making sure each column adds up the way it should.  Nerdy I know but we all have our idiosyncrasies. . . . .  if this is the worst of mine, it aint half bad I reckon!

Quiet Essentials

Staying motivated is hard for everyone at some point in their lives – whether completing school / uni assignments, meeting work deadlines, doing the housework or finishing your knitting or papier mache project! For myself, most important in staying motivated is a tidy and private work area. At the time of opening business my study space had been temporarily occupied by my brother in law for 6 months. Once vacated, I came to realise I did not possess a desk. Rather important oversight. Thanks to my beautiful friend SEWELLE and her mother in-law, I have now inherited a family heirloom and perfect work space for me to spread out, get comfortable and put my head down and bum up. And just in time. It's been a hectic week following the Great South East special we had air Sunday promoting Taste Tours, bookings for a 50^th birthday party, 70^th birthday party, 3 lunches and an end of year Xmas party all in 5 days. Time to put the head down again and get back to it! So happy to be so busy. Have a great week all! T. x