Problems and Bigger Ones

We left our heroine at a great precipice. Does she take the plunge or give up and go home before her adventure even begins? Stay tuned to find out!

Okay, so immediately after my last post, a small hoard of well-intentioned friends surged forth to tell me not to get my hopes up. A friend of a friend tried to sell tamales from her house and couldn't get a health inspection. Another wanted to start up a cupcake business but was told she was improperly zoned. For several days, any little peek into my e-mailbox produced every manner of discouragement.

Fortunately, I never liked being told what to do. So I looked into things on my own. As it turns out, zoning is not an issue. Basically, I won't be having customer foot traffic since I am planning to ship or hand delivers orders, and I'm not putting out signage or altering my apartment facade in any way. So, check that off my list of possible stumbling blocks.

The kitchen inspection, on the other hand, has been a small trial. Two (or three, I've lost count) weeks of unanswered voice messages, wrong numbers and general run-around and I am only just making headway. As it turns out, The Maricopa County Health Department does not actually do home kitchen inspections at all. This coincides with the information a friend had given me. However, I did find out that everything of that nature falls under the Environmental Services department.

I am awaiting a call back from them to get the inspection done.

In the meantime, there have been some very exciting developments to mention. First (in order of importance) Two of my very favourite people took their nuptials this past weekend. One would be hard pressed to produce a more perfect wedding. The entire gathering was a labour of love, and how better can I express my love than through chocolate? The Pop Rocks truffles - a special request by the bride - were gone in two hours at most and by the time I left the party, there were only three Dark Chocolate Merlot truffles remaining. Everyone aside from a friends young children were in chocolate Nirvana. Next time, I will have to make something special for them.

I also agreed to do a small chocolate making seminar at my office last week. In my most humble opinion, the lesson plan was pretty brilliant. Unfortunately, whoever scheduled the lunchtime event did it at the same time and in the same conference room as the weekly Weight Watchers meeting. They promptly kicked me out, but I did leave behind a table full of Orange Creamsicle truffles, a chocolate ganache cake and my contact information.

At the end of this week is 2nd Friday Night Out in downtown Mesa, and a little research has shown me that all I need is an easily obtainable Mesa tax license and I can set up a table on the sidewalk to sell delicious things. The next few days will be a lesson in running around, but with crossed fingers, Earthly Delights might just make a smashing debut by week's end!

That's all for now, kids. This little chocolate robot has a lot of work to do.